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'rganization, Boundaries, and Names of 
Wisconsin Counties 

By Louise. Phelps Kellogg, Ph. D. 



[From the Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, 

pages 184—231] 



Madison 
Published by the Society 

19TO 



Organization, Boundaries, and Names of 
Wisconsin Counties 

By Louise Phelps Kellogg, Ph. D. 



[From the Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsm for 1909, 

pages 184-231] 



Madison 

Published by the Society 

1910 



<^.. 



<:KS 



Organization, Boundaries, and 
Names of Wisconsin Counties 



By Louise Phelps Kellogg, Ph. D. 

Wisconsin is at present divided into seventy-one counties. 
The following list, arranged chronologically, shows the date of 
the organization of each, the territory from which it was formed, 
and the several changes of boundaries that have since occurred. 
A statement of the origin of the county names, follows in the 
appendix. Great care has been exercised in compiling this data, 
the statutes being the principal source of information ; but pos- 
sibly errors have crept in. and the Society will be much pleased 
if persons cognizant thereof will kindly call attention to the 
matter, that the publication may be corrected in possible future 
editions. 

Pre-Territorial Counties, 1818-36 

Michilimackinac, 1818. Erected by proclamation of Lewis 
Cass, governor of Blichigan Territory, Laivs of the Territory of 
Michigan, 1824; Executive Acts, October 26, 1818. The south- 
ern boundary was a line drawn due west and east from the 
dividing ground between the rivers which flow into Lake Su- 
perior and those flowing south, to a point due north from Stur- 
geon Bay, thence south to said bay, thence by nearest line to 
the boundary of Indiana Territory as established in 1805. The 
original county thus included portions of the present Douglas, 
Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, and Door; counties. In 1826 this was 
limited on the north by the ereeti'cfil of Chippewa County, whose 
southern boundary was parallel of latitude 46° 31'. Upon the 
erection of Wisconsin Territory (1836), Michilimackinac County 

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Gift 

The Society 
JUN 13 1910 



Wisconsin Counties 

was confined to Michigan, and such portions thereof as fell to 
the lot of Wisconsin became unorganized portions of Crawford 
and Brown counties respectivelj''. 

Brown, 1818. Erected by proclamation of Lewis Cass, gover- 
nor of ]\Iichigan Territory, Laws of the Territory of Michigan, 
1824; Executive Acts, October 26, 1818. Boundaries: north, 
county of Michilimackinac ; east, the same and the northward 
extension of the line between Indiana and Illinois; south, by 
Illinois; w^est, by a line due north from the Illinois boundary, 
through the middle of the portage between Fox and Wisconsin 
rivers, extending to the county of Michilimackinac. 

1834. By legislative act of Michigan Territory, Acts passed 
at the Extra and Second Session of the Sixth Legislative Coun- 
cil, Septemher 6, Milwaukee County vs^as set off from Brown, 
the former to include all south of the line between townships 11, 
12 north, of the Green Bay land district. By the same act, 
the western boundary of Brown was enlarged to extend to Wis- 
consin River; the eastern was defined as a line running through 
the middle of Lake Michigan until it struck the southern boun- 
dary of Michilimackinac County. 

1836. Under No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1836, 
thirteen counties were erected from the territory of Brown and 
Milwaukee. Of these, the entire counties of Sheboygan, Fond 
du I;ac, Calumet. Manitowoc, and Marquette, likewise the town- 
ships of Washington, Dodge, and Portage, north of township line^ 
between 11 and 12, w^ere taken from Brown. The southern-, 
boundary of Brown was thus the to\\Tiship line between 20 and: 
21, from Lake Michigan to Fox Eiver, up that to Lake Winne-- 
bago; thence to township line between 18 and 19, from Lake: 
Winnebago to the line between ranges xii and xiii east; south 
to the township line between 17 and 18 ; west to a line between 
ranges xi and xii east; south, to the toAMiship line between 16 
and 17 ; west to the line between ranges x and xi east ; south to 
the township line between 15 and 16 ; west to the line between 
ranges viii and ix east; south to the township line between 13 
and 14; west to Wisconsin River. This line attempted roughly 
to follow the course of Fox River. 

1840. Under section 8, No. 12, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 
1839-40, there were taken from Brown County to form Winne- 
bago, townships 19 and 20 of ranges xiv-xvii east. 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

1841. Under section 1, No. 38, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 
1840-41, all that portion of Brown lying west of the range line 
between ix and x east was added to Portage. Section 8 of the 
same chapter defined the limits of Brown as bounded on the 
north and east by the state line, south by the counties of Mani- 
towoc, Calumet, and Winnebago, and by Fox River, and west 
by Portage Coimty. Under No. 40 of the same year, the law 
establishing Calumet County was repealed, and Its territory re- 
verted to Brown. 

1842. Under an act approved February 18, Laws of Wisconr- 
sin Territory, 1841-42, Calumet County was re-established from 
Brown. 

1849. Under chapter 73, Laws of 1849, Marquette County 
was enlarged by all the townships lying north of Fox Eixer to 
the line between townships 20 and 21, between ranges x-xiii; 
this made the southern boundary of Brown the township line 
between 20 and 21. Chapter 79, of the same year, annexed to 
Winnebago County all the Menominee Indian purchase not in- 
cluded in any county since its consummation. This detached 
from Brown all territory lying west of Wolf River. 

1850. Under chapter 166, Laws of 1830, townships 21 of 
ranges xxii-xxv east, were cut off from Brown and annexed to 
Manitowoc. 

1851. Under chapter 31, Laws of 1851, Oconto County was 
cut off from Brown, including all north of the line between 
townships 25 and 26, extending from Green Bay to range xix, 
thence south to the line between townships 24 and 25, thence 
west to Wolf River. Under chapter 66 of the same year, all of 
the present Door and Kewaunee counties were cut off from 
Brown to form Door. Under chapter 83, of the same year, Out- 
agamie County, comprising townships 21-24 of ranges xv-xviii 
and the west half of range xix east, was taken from Brown, 
which was by this act reduced to its present boundaries. 

Crawford, 1818. Erected by proclamation of Lewis Cass, 
governor of Michigan Territory, Laws of the Territory of Mich- 
igan, 1824; Executive Acts, October 26, 1818. Boundaries: 
north, county of Michilimackinac ; east. Brown County; south, 
State line of Illinois; west, the western boundary of the Terri- 
tory (that is, the Mississippi River). 

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Wisconsin Counties 

1829. By act approved October 9, Laivs of Michigan Terri- 
tory, 1829, all of Crawford south of Wisconsin River was set 
off to form Iowa County. 

1834. By legislative act of Michigan Territory, Acts passed 
at the extra and Second Session of the Sixth Legislative Coun- 
cil, September 6, Brown County was extended to Wisconsin 
River, thus cutting off a portion of Crawford. 

1836. Under section 6, No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 
1836, township 10, range vi east; a fractional part of township 
10, range vii east ; fractional parts of townships 11 and 12, range 
viii east ; and a fractional part of township 12, range ix east — 
that is, all those portions of such townships lying west of Wis- 
consin River — were taken from Crawford to become part of 
Portage County. 

1838. Under No. 39, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 1838, a 
six-mile strip parallel to Wisconsin River, and west of the same, 
was added to Portage from Crawford. Under No. 104, of the 
same year, all of Wisconsin Territory lying south and west of 
Lake Superior, east of Mississippi and Grand Porks rivers, and 
north of the Wisconsin, not included in any other county, was 
attached to Crawford "for all judicial purposes." This prac- 
tically included such portions of Michilimackinac and Chippewa 
counties of the Territory of Michigan, as had been left unpro- 
vided with local boundaries or jurisdiction on the erection of 
Wisconsin Territory in 1836. 

1840. Under No. 20, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory. 1839-40, 
St. Croix County was organized from Crawford, to comprise all 
territoiy lying north and west of a line from the mouth of Por- 
cupine River on Lake Pepin, up that river to its first forks, 
thence to the Meadow fork of Red Cedar River, thence up said 
river to Long Lake, thence along the canoe route to Lake Court 
Oreille, thence to the nearest point on the west fork of Montreal 
River, thence to Lake Superior and to the United States bound- 
ary line. Under Ihid., No. 23, Sauk County was organized 
from Crawford, cutting off all north and west of Wisconsin 
River, east of the line between ranges i and ii east, and south 
of the line between townships 13 and 14. 

1841. Under No. 38, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1840-41, 
all of Crawford east of a line between ranges i and ii east, north 
of township 13, was annexed to Portage. 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

1842. Under act approved February 18, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1841-42, Richland County was created, taking from 
Crawford all south of township 12, east of range ii west. 

1845. Under section 1 of act approved February 3, Laws of 
Wisconsin Territory, 1845, the boundaries of Crawford were de- 
fined as comprising all north of Wisconsin River and east of the 
Mississippi, south of a line beginning at the mouth of Buffalo 
River, up that stream to its source, thence in a direct line to the 
southern point of Lake Chetac, thence due east to the western 
boundary of Portage, and west of the western lines of Richland 
and Portage counties. The same act created ChippeAva County, 
from territory thus cut off from Crawford. 

1846. The foregoing line was found inconvenient. Hence, 
under an act approved January 14, Laivs of Wisco^isiii Terri- 
tory, 1846, the boundary between Crawford and Chippev/a was 
thus defined : commencing at the mouth of Buffalo River, thence 
up the main branch thereof to its source, thence along the di- 
viding ridge between the waters of Chippewa and Black rivers 
to the headwaters of the latter, thence a direct line due east to 
the western boundary of Portage County. 

1851. Under chapter 131, Laws of 1851, Bad Ax (now Ver- 
non) and La Crosse counties were organized from Crawford. 
The former detached toi'^Tiships 12-14 and the northern half of 
townships 11, in ranges ii-vii west; the latter, all of Crawford 
north of the line between townships 14 and 15. Thus Crawford 
was reduced to its present boundaries. 

Chippewa (Mich. Ty,), 1826. Under act approved Decem- 
ber 22, 1826, Laws of Michigan Territory, Chippewa County wel 
organized, from lands Ijang north of parallel 46° 31' north lati- 
tude. This included portions of the present Douglas, Bayfield, 
Ashland, and Iron counties, with the sites of the cities of Su- 
perior and Ashland. 

In 1886, when Wisconsin Territory was organized, this county 
was restricted to Michigan. 

1888. Under No. 104, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 1837-38, 
that part of Wisconsin formerly within this county was incor- 
porated in Crawford County. 

Iowa, 1829. Under act approved October 9, Laws of Michi- 
gan Territory, 1829, Iowa County was erected from Crawford, 
comprising all the territory bounded on the south by Illinois, on 

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Wisconsin Counties 

the east by the west line of Brown County, and on the west and 
north by the IMississippi and Wisconsin rivers. 

1836. Under section 4, No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 
1836, Dane County was formed, taking townships 5-9 of ranges 
vi-viii from Iowa County. No. 31, of the same year, further re- 
duced the boundaries of lowa, by erecting all west of the fourth 
principal meridian into the county of Grant ; and townships 1-^ 
in ranges vi-ix east, into the county of Green. 

1846. Under an act approved January 31, Laivs of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1846, Iowa was to be divided into two counties: the 
southern, to be called Lafayette, was to be composed of town- 
ships 1, 2, 3, and the southern half of 4, of ranges i-v east ; the 
northern, consisting of the remaining to^^^lships, was to be called 
Montgomery. This act was submitted to a referendum of the 
people of the county, who favored the division. 

1847. Under an act approved February 4, Laivs of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1847, Lafayette County was declared erected. The 
proposed name Montgomery was, however, not appended to the 
northern portion, which retained the name of Iowa, with its 
present boundaries. 

Milwaukee, 1834. By an act approved September 6, Second 
Session of the Sixth Legislative Council of Michigan Territory, 
1834, Milwaukee (originally spelled Milwaukie) County was 
erected from BrowTi, with the following boundaries: east, the 
eastern boundary of Illinois extended northward through Lake 
Michigan; south, the present state line of Illinois-Wisconsin; 
v^est, Iowa County ; north, the line between townships 11 and 12 
of the Green Bay land district. 

1836. Under No. 28, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 1836, Mil- 
waukee County was divided, there being taken therefrom the 
counties of Eacine, Rock, Walworth, Jefferson, and parts of 
Dane, AVashington, Dodge, and Portage, thus restricting the 
boundaries of IMilwaul^ee to the present Waukesha and Milwau- 
kee counties. 

1846. Under an act approved January 31, Laivs of Wiscon- 
sin Territory, 1846, all of Milwaukee County west of range xxi 
east was to be organized into Waukesha County, provided a 
referendum to the people of that portion of the county should be 
favorable to division. This was carried, and Milwaukee County 
was in the same year reduced to its present boundaries. 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 



Territorial Counties, 1836-48 

When organized in 1836, "Wisconsin Territory comprised all 
of the present states of Iowa and Minnesota, and part of the 
Dakotas. The portion lying west of the Mississippi was on June 
12, 1838, set off as Iowa Territory; the counties formed therein 
by the first "Wisconsin territorial legislature are not included in 
this summary. 

Walworth, 1836. Under section 1, No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1836, "Walworth County was organized from Milwau- 
kee, with its present boundaries. 

Racine, 1836. Under section 2, No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1836, Racine County was organized from Milwaukee, 
with boundaries including the present Racine and Kenosha 
counties. 

1850. Under chapter 39, Laivs of 1850, Kenosha County was 
set off from Racine, which was thus reduced to its present 
boundaries. 

Jefferson, 1836. Under section 3, No. 28, Laivs of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1836, Jefferson County was organized from Milwau- 
kee, with its present boundaries. 

1856. Under chapter 27, General Laws of 1856, Jefferson 
County was enlarged by adding thereto townships 9 of ranges 
xiii-xvii east, taken from Dodge County. 

1858. Under chapter 90, General Laivs of 1858, the preceding 
act was repealed, and Jefferson was reduced to its former and 
present boundaries. 

Dane, 1836. Under section 4, No. 28, Laivs of Wisconsin Ter- 
ritory. 1836, Dane County was erected from territory formerly 
part of Milwaukee and Iowa counties. This act provided for its 
present boundaries, save at the northwest angle, which extended 
beyond "Wisconsin River, 

1840. Under No. 23, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1839-40, 
all of township 9 of range vi east that lies northwest of "Wiscon- 
sin River, was given to Sauk County. Dane was thus reduced 
to its present boundaries. 

Portage, 1836 (see also Columbia). Under section 5, No. 28, 
Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 1836, Portage County was erected 
from territory formerly belonging to Brown, Milwaukee, and 

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Wisconsin Counties 

Crawford. It comprised townships 10 of ranges vi-xiii east, 
townships 11 of ranges viii-xiii east, and townships 12 and 13 of 
ranges ix-xiii east, the whole nearly equivalent to the present 
Columbia County. 

1838. Under No. 39, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1838, the 
boundaries of Portage were re-defined ; according to which all of 
range xiii was omitted, being likewise a part of Dodge ; while a 
six-mile strip parallel to Wisconsin River, on its west bank, was 
annexed to Portage from territory formerly a part of Crawford 
County. 

1840. Under No. 23, Laics of Wisconsin Territory, 1839-40, 
Sauk County was established west of Wisconsin Eiver, Portage 
thus losing township 30 in range vi and portions of the before- 
mentioned six-mile strip. 

1841. Under No. 38, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 1840-41, 
Portage County was enlarged by adding to it all that territory 
running north to the state boundary lying north of Sauk and 
Portage, between ranges ii and ix east, save the fractional por- 
tions of townships 14 and 15, range ix east, lying east of Fox 
Eiver, which were part of Marquette County. Under this defi- 
nition of bounds. Portage County included the present Colum- 
bia, Adams, Juneau, Wood, and Lincoln counties, the western 
portions of the present I\Iarquette, Waushara, Portage, Mara- 
thon, Langlade, Oneida, and Vilas counties, and the eastern por- 
tions of Taylor, Price, and Iron. 

1846. Under an act approved February 3, Laivs of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1846, Columbia County was set off from Portage, tak- 
ing with it all of the latter county south of the line between 
townships 13 and 14, save the portion between Fox and Wiscon- 
sin rivers. Thus Columbia corresponded nearly to the original 
Portage County. 

1848. Under an act approved March 11, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1848, Adams County was set off from Portage ; the 
new county comprised the territory between Lemonweir River 
and the northern boundary of Sauk County. 

1849. Under chapter 73, Laivs of 1849, Marquette County 
was enlarged, cutting from Portage townships 14-20 of range 
viii, and 16-20 of range ix. Under section 2 of the same chap- 
ter, Adams County was also enlarged, cutting from Portage 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

tov.-nsliips 15-20 of ranges ii-vii. Chapter 77 of the same year 
provided that the portion of Portage south of township 14, be- 
tween Fox and Wisconsin rivers, should be annexed to Columbia. 
Thus the southern boundary of Portage County was in 1849 a 
line between townships 20 and 21, eleven townships north of its 
original boundary as established in 1836. 

1850. Under chapter 226, Laivs of 1850, Marathon County 
was erected from all that portion of Portage lying north of the 
line between townships 25 and 26. 

1851. Under chapter 114, Laws of 1851, toAvnships 21-25 of 
range x east were annexed to Portage from territory formerly 
incorporated in "Winnebago County. 

1855. Under chapter 51, General Laivs of 1855, the qualified 
voters of Winnebago County were to decide whether townships 
21-25 of range x east should be stricken off from Winnebago. 
Under chapter 58 of the same year, all qualified voters in to"vra- 
ships 21-25 of range x were to decide whether this territory 
should be part of Portage or of Waupaca counties. This elec- 
tion favored the former. 

1856. Under chapter 54, General Laivs of 1856, Wood County 
was set off from Portage, consisting of townships 21-25 in ranges 
li-v, townships 21, 22 of range vi east, and as much of to'wnship 
23 of tlio same range as lies south of Wisconsin River. Section 9 
of the same chapter defined the boundaries of Portage County in 
accordance with this division, and included townships 21-25 of 
range x east. Chapter 108, of the same year, amended chapter 
54, so as to include in Wood County all of township 23 in range 
vi east. Thus Portage was in 1856 reduced to its present boun- 
daries. 

Dodge, 1836. Under section 6, No. 28, Laius of Wisconsin 
Territory. 1836, Dodge County was organized from Browm and 
IMilwaukee counties: fifteen townships, 11-13 of ranges xiii-xvii 
east,, were taken from Brown ; and ten townships, 9 and 10 of 
ranges xiii-xvii east, were subtracted from Milwaukee. Town- 
ships 10-13 of range xiii were by the same chapter assigned to 
Portage as well as to Dodge County. 

1838. Under No. 39, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1838, 
townships 10-13, of range xiii, were dropped from Portage and 
thus confirmed as part of Dodge. 

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Wisconsin Counties 

1856. Under chapter 27, General Laws of 1856, townships 9 
of ranges xiii-xvii east were detached from Dodge and annexed 
to Jefferson County. 

1858. Under chapter 90, General Laics of 1858, the preceding 
act was repealed, and Dodge reverted to its original boundaries, 
which are those of the present. 

Washington, 1836. Under section 7, No. 28, Laws of Wiscon- 
sin Territory, 1836, Washington County was erected out of Mil- 
Vt'aukee and Brown. Townships 9 and 10, of ranges xviii-xxii 
east were taken from the former; townships 11 and 12 of ranges 
xviii-xxiii east, from the latter. Washington County then in- 
cluded the present Washington and Ozaukee counties. 

1850. Under chapter 114, Laivs of 1850, Washington County 
was to be divided by setting off toA^^lships 9 and 10 of all its 
ranges to form the county of Tuskola. By section 14 of this 
chapter, this proposition was to be submitted to popular vote 
within the county. It failed of securing a majority, however, 
and Washington County remained for three years longer un- 
divided. 

1853. Under chapter 21, General Laws of 1853, Washington 
County Avas divided, and Ozaukee erected by cutting off all 
townships east of the line between ranges xx and xxi. Wash- 
ington County was thus reduced to its present boundaries. 

Sheboygan, 1836. Under section 8, No. 28, Laws of Wiscon- 
sin Territory, 1836, Sheboygan County was erected from Brown. 
It comprised townships 13-16 of ranges xx-xxiii east, the same 
boundaries as at present. 

Fond du Lac, 1836. Under section 9, No. 28, Laivs of Wis- 
consin Territory, 1836, Fond du Lac County was erected from 
Brown, and comprised townships [13] of ranges xviii [and xix] 
east, townships 14-16 of ranges xiv-xviii east, and toAvnships 17 
and 18 of ranges xiv-xvi, including most of the present Fond du 
Lac, and part of Winnebago County. The original act establish- 
ing Fond du Lac County omitted the word ''thirteen" before 
ranges xviii and xix east; and also omitted range "xix" after 
"xviii east," thus leaving five townships out of any jurisdiction. 
The tpwnships 14-18 in range xiv were by the same act included 
in both Fond du Lac and Marquette counties. These defects 
were later remedied. 

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1840. Under No. 12, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1839-40, 
Winnebago County was established, cutting off from Fond du 
Lac townships 17 and 18 of ranges xiv-xvii east. Section 2, of 
the same chapter, transferred fractional to\\Tiships 17 in ranges 
xviii and xix east, south of the Indian reservation line, from 
Calumet County to Fond du Lac. 

1844. Under act approved January 22, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1843-44, all of Lake Winnebago south of a line from 
the southern boundary of the Brothertown Indian reservation 
to the line between townships 16 and 17 was made part of Fond 
du Lac County. 

1848. Under act approved March 6, Laws of Wiscotisin Ter- 
ritory, 1848, the boundaries of Fond du Lac were defined as in- 
cluding township 13, range xviii east, townships 13-16 of range 
xix east, and all of Lake Winnebago south of a line from Brother- 
town reservation to the line between ranges xvii and xviii, thence 
to a line between to^^oiships 16 and 17. Section 2 of the same 
act declared that townships 14-16 of range xiv, which by No. 
28, Laws of 1836, had been included in both Marquette and 
Fond du Lac counties, were part of the latter. 

1859. Under chapter 69, General Laios of 1859, the legal 
voters of Fond du Lac were to decide whether township 16, 
range xiv east, should be transferred to Green Lake County. 
Popular concurrence was not accorded to this measure, and the 
boimdaries of Fond du Lac remained as defined in 1849. 

Calumet, 1836. Under section 10, No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory. 1836, Calumet County was established from Brown, 
the new county comprising townships 17-20 of ranges xvi-xx 
east. 

1840. Under section 2, No. 12, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 
1839-40, the southern portion of townships 17, in ranges xviii 
and xix east, south of the Indian reservation, was detached from 
Calumet and annexed to Fond du Lac. 

1841. Under No. 40, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1840-41, 
Calumet Comity was declared non-existing and its territory re- 
verted to Brown County. 

1842. Under an act approved February 18, Laivs of Wiscon^ 
sin Territory, 1841-42, the preceding act was repealed, and 
Calumet County re-established. 

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Wisconsin Counties 

ISiS. Under an act approved March 6, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1848, all of Lake "Winnebago north of the southern 
boundary of the Brothertown Indian reservation, and east of a 
line between ranges xvii and xviii, was declared a part of Calu- 
met County. 

1849. I'nder chapter 2, Revised Statutes of 1849, the boun- 
daries of Calumet County were defined as at present. 

Manitowoc, 1836. Under section 11, No. 28, Laws of Wiscori- 
sin Territory, 1836, Manitowoc County was erected out of terri- 
tory formerly belonging to Brown, comprising townships 17-20 
of ranges xxi-xxv east. 

1850. Under chapter 166, Laws of 1850, townships 21 of 
ranges xxii-xxv east were annexed to Manitowoc from territory 
belonging to Brown. The boundaries of Manitow^oc were thus 
established as at present. 

Marquette, 1836. Under section 12, No. 28, Laws of Wis- 
consin Territory, 1836, ]Marquette County was erected from 
territory formerly belonging to Brown, with boundaries as 
follows: toT^Tiships 14, 15 of ranges ix and x east, townships 
14-16 of range xi east, townships 14-17 of range xii east, and 
townships 14-18 of ranges xiii, xiv east. Of these, townships 
14-18 of range xiv were, through inadvertence, assigned under 
section 9 of the same chapter to Fond du Lac as well as to Mar- 
quette. 

1840. Under No. 12, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1839-40, 
Winnebago County was erected, its limits including two of 
Marquette's townships, 17 and 18 of range xiv. 

1848. Under act approved March 6, Laws of Wisconsin Ter- 
ritory, 1848, townships 14-16 of range xiv were declared to be 
part of Fond du Lac County. 

1849. Under chapter 73, Laws of 1849, the boundaries of 
Marquette were much enlarged, and made to comprise all the 
present Marquette, Green Lake, and Waushara counties. Of 
this new portion, townships 14-20 of ranges viii, and townships 
16-20 of range ix east, were transferred to Marquette from Port- 
age ; while townships 16-20 of range x east, 17-20 of range xi 
east, 18-20 of range xii east, and 19, 20 of range xiii were trans- 
ferred from that part of Brown that was part of the Menominee 
Indian purchase. 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

1851. Under chapter 77, Laws of 1851, Waushara County 
was erected from all that part of Marquette lying north of the 
line between townships 17 and 18. 

1858. Under chapter 17, General Latvs of 1858, Green Lake 
County was set off from Marquette. The boundaries between 
these counties were modified by chapter 85 of the same year, 
which set off for Green Lake County all east of the line between 
ranges x and xi, except the west four tiers of sections of town- 
ships 16 and 17, range xi east. 

1860. Under chapter 143, General Laws of 1860, the boun- 
daries of Marquette were defined as at present. 

1862. Under chapter 23, General Laws of 1862, portions of 
townships 14 and 15 in range x were to be detached from Mar- 
quette and added to Green Lake, and portions of township 16 
in range xi detached from Green Lake and added to Marquette, 
provided a popular vote should so decide ; but this proposition 
failed of endorsement. 

1865. Under chapter 191, General Latvs of 1865, the same 
proposition in regard to portions of townships 14 and 15, in 
range x, was to be a second time submitted to popular vote. 
This again failed to secure approval of voters, and the boun- 
daries of Marquette County remained as defined in 1860. 

Rock, 1836. Under section 13, No. 28, Latvs of Wisconsin 
Te?'ritory, 1836, Rock County was erected out of Milwaukee 
County, its limits comprising townships 1-4 of ranges xi-xiv 
east. 

1838. Under No. 5,- Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 1838, town- 
ships 1-4 of range x east were annexed to Rock, making its 
boundaries the same as at present. 

Grant, 1836. Under section 1, No. 31, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1836, all of Iowa County lying west of the fourth 
principal meridian was detached therefrom and erected into the 
county of Grant, which thus was given boundaries the same as 
at present. 

Green, 1836. Under section 2, No. 31, Laws of Wisconsin 
Territory, 1836, Green County was set off from Iowa, its terri- 
tory comprising townships 1-4 in ranges vi-ix east — the same 
bomidaries as at present. 

Winnebago, 1840. Under section 8, No. 12, Laws of Wiscon^ 
sin Territory, 1839-40, Winnebago was erected from Fond du 

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Wisconsin Counties 

Lae and Bro\\'TL counties. It comprised townships 17-20, in 
ranges xiv-xvii east. 

1848. Under section 4 of an act approved March 6, Laius of 
Wisconsin Territory, 1848, all that part of Lake Winnebago 
north of Fond dn Lac Connty line, and west of the line between 
ranges xvii and xviii, was declared to be a part of Winnebago 
Connty. 

1849. Under chapter 79, Laivs of 1849, all of the Menominee 
Indian lands, purchased under the treaty of 1848, and not at- 
tached to any other county since that treaty was consummated, 
were annexed to Winnebago County — practically, this included 
most of Waupaca, Shawano, and Langlade counties and one tier 
of townships in range x east, immediately east of what was then 
Portage. 

1851. Lender chapter 78, Laivs of 1851, Waupaca County, 
comprising townships 21-25 of ranges xi-xiv, and such frac- 
tional part of township 25, range xv east, as lay west of Wolf 
River, was taken from Winnebago County. Under chapter 114 
of the same year, townships 21-25 of range x east were annexed 
to Portage. 

1853. Under chapter 9, General Laivs of 1853, Shawano 
County was formed, taking from Winnebago such portions west 
of Wolf River as lay between townships 26 and 29, and east of 
the line between ranges xi and xii east. 

1855. Although chapter 114 of 1851 had detached townships 
21-25 of range x from AVinnebago and added them to Portage, 
chapter 51 of the General Laws of 1855 provided that the quali- 
fied voters of Winnebago were to decide whether these town- 
ships should belong to Winnebago or to Portage. A majority 
having decided for Portage, they were so incorporated. 

1856. Under chapter 45, General Laivs of 1856, the bound- 
aries of Winnebago were defined as they are at present. Under 
section 2 of the same act, townships 26-29 of ranges x and xi 
east were added to Shawano County, and the remaining part of 
Winnebago, north of township 29, to Oconto County. 

St. Croix, 1840. Under No. 12, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 
1839-40, St. Croix County w^as created from Crawford. The 
new comity embraced all north and west of a line beginning at 
the mouth of Porcupine River, on Lake Pepin, thence up said 

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river to its first forks, thence to the Meadow fork of Red Cedar 
River, thence up that river to Long Lake, by canoe route to 
Lake Court Oreille, thence to the nearest point on the west fork 
of Montreal River, and thence to Lake Superior and the United 
States boundary. This included, besides northwest Wisconsin, 
all of what is now Minnesota lying east of Mississippi River. 

1845. Under an act approved February 19, Laws of Wiscon- 
sin Territory, 1845, La Pointe County was set off from St. Croix. 
It comprised all north of a line from the mouth of Muddy Island 
River, thence to Yellow Lake, thence to Lake Court Oreille, 
thence to IMontreal River, Lake Superior, and the United States 
boundary. 

1848-49. Upon the organization of the State (1848), Con- 
gress detached from Wisconsin, for the purpose of giving it to 
Minnesota, all that part of the former Territory of Wisconsin 
lying west of St. Croix River. The tract thus given to Minne- 
sota was henceforth lost to St. Croix County. Under section 6, 
chapter 77. Laivs of 1849, the boundaries of St. Croix were de- 
fined as beginning at the western boundary of the State, at the 
mouth of Rush River, thence extending eastward to the line 
between ranges xiv and xv west, thence north to the line be- 
tween townships 81 and 32, thence east to the line between 
ranges xi and xii west, thence north to St. Croix River and west 
and south coextensive with the State boundary to the place of 
beginning; that is, including the present Pierce, St. Croix, Polk, 
and Burnett counties and parts of what are now Barron and 
Washburn. 

1853. Under chapter 31, General Laivs of 1853, St. Croix 
County was divided: Pierce was set off, south of the line be- 
tween townships 27 and 28 ; and Polk, north of the line between 
to^vnships 31 and 32. St. Croix was thus reduced to its present 
boundaries. 

Sauk, 1840. Under No. 23, Laws of Wisconsin Territory, 
1839-40, Sauk County was formed from territory formerly a 
part of Crawford County, with two townships from Portage, 
and a fractional township from Dane. The county's boundaries 
were the same as at present, except for four townships later 
added to Richland. 

1842. Under an act approved February 18, Laws of Wis- 

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Wisconsin Counties 

cousin Terriiory, 1841—4 2, townships 9-12 in range ii east, were 
taken from Sank to be incorporated in Eicliland County. 

1849. Under section 3, chapter 77, Laivs of 1849, townships 
14 in ranges ii-vi east were added to Sauk from Adams County. 

1853. Under chapter 29, General Laws of 1853, the foregoing 
townships were restored to Adams, and Sauk assumed its pres- 
ent boundaries. 

Richland, 1842. Under act approved February 18, Laws of 
Viisconsin Territory, 1841-42, Richland County was erected 
from territory formerly belonging to Crawford and Sauk, with 
boundaries the same as at present. 

Chippewa, 1845. Under an act approved February 3, Laws 
of Wisconsin Territory, 1845, Chippewa County was erected 
from CraAvford, comprising all north of the boundary estab- 
lished for Crawford, west of Portage, south of St. Croix, and 
east of the Mississippi. 

1846. Under an act approved January 14, Laws of Wiscon- 
sin Territory, 1846, the boundary line between Crawford and 
Chippewa counties was changed to Buffalo River to its source, 
thence following the watershed of Chippewa and Black rivers to 
the western boundary of Portage. 

1849. Under section 4, chapter 77, Laivs of 1849, the bound- 
pries of Chippewa were defined as including the territory lying 
between Crawford, Portage, La Pointe, and St. Croix counties. 

1854. Under chapter 1, General Laws of 1854, all of Chip- 
pewa between Beef and Chippewa rivers, south of the line be- 
tween townships 24 and 25, was annexed to Buffalo County. 
Under chapter 12 of the same year, Dunn County was erected 
from Chippewa, including the present Dunn and Pepin counties. 
Under chapter 100 of the same year, the southern boundary be- 
tween ChippcM^a and Jackson was made the line between town- 
ships 24 and 25, and portions of Chippewa were detached to 
form Clark County, making the eastern boundary of the former 
the line between ranges iv and v west, as far as the line between 
townships 31 and 32, thence east to range ii east. 

1856. Under chapter 114, General Laws of 1856, Eau Claire, 
.vith the same boundaries it has today, was formed from Chip- 
pewa, whose southern boundary became as at present. 

1860. Under chapter 235, General Laws of 1860, townships 

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32-37 of raiiges x and xi west were detached from Chippewa 
and added to Dallas (now Barron) County. 

1864. Under chapter 462, General Laws of 1864, townships 
38-40 of ranges x and xi west were detached from Chippewa and 
annexed to Burnett County. 

1875. Under chapter 178, Laws of 1875, townships 32 and 33 
of ranges i east, and i-iv west were incorporated in Taylor 
County. 

1879. Under section 1 of chapter 103, Laws of 1879, town- 
ships 34-40 in ranges i east, and i and ii west were included in 
Price County. Under section 18 of the same act, to^^^lships 
35-37 of ranges iii-v west were declared to be a part of Chip- 
pewa. 

1883. Under section 1 of chapter 47, Laws of 1883, all of 
Chippewa north of the line between townships 36 and 37 was 
made part of Sawyer County. Chippewa was now reduced to 
the limits of the present Chippewa and Rusk counties. 

1901. Under section 1, chapter 469, Laws of 1901, Gates 
(now Rusk) County was taken from Chippewa, which thus was 
reduced to its present boundaries. 

Bayfield (originally La Pointe), 1845. Under act approved 
February 19, Laivs of Wisconsin Territory, 1845, La Pointe 
County was formed from St. Croix. It included all north of a 
line from ]\Iuddy Island River to Yellow Lake, thence in a direct 
line to Lake Court Oreille, to Montreal River, to Lake Superior, 
and to the national boundary. This county included a portion 
of what is now northeastern Minnesota as w^ell as the extreme 
northern part of Wisconsin. The boundaries assigned on the 
admission of the State in 1848 cut off a considerable portion of 
La Pointe County. 

1849. Under section 5, chapter 77, Laivs of 1849, the bound- 
aries of La Pointe Avere defined as follows: north and west, the 
State boundaries; south, the line between townships 40 and 41; 
east, Portage County (or the range line between i and ii east). 

1854. Under chapter 10, General Laivs of 1854, Douglas 
County was formed from all of La Pointe west of range ix west. 

1860. Under chapter 211, General Laws of 1860, all south 
and east of the line between to"VATiships 44 and 45 to the range 
line between v and vi west, thence north to the line between 

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Wisconsin Counties 

townships 49 and 50, thence east to the centre of the channel in 
the Bay of La Pointe, thence between the Apostle Islands to the 
State boundarj^ was erected into Ashland County, including 
parts of the present Bayfield. 

1866. Under section 1, chapter 146, General Laws of 1866, 
townships 48 and 49 of range v west, and fractional townships 
48 and 49 of range iv west, were taken from Ashland and at- 
tached to La Pointe County. Under section 2 of the same act, 
the name of the county became Bayfield. 

1869. Under chapter 116, General Laics of 1869, townships 
43-47 of range v west, and 43 and 44 of ranges vi-ix west, were 
detaclied from Ashland and restored to Bayfield, w^hich there- 
upon assumed its present boundaries. 

Waukesha, 1846. Under No. 28, Laws of Wisconsin Terri- 
tory, 1846, it was proposed to erect Waukesha County out of 
Milwaukee, with boundaries as at present. This was to be sub- 
mitted to a popular referendum, which resulted in favor of the 
Eew county. 

Columbia (formerly Portage), 1846. For the establishment 
of this coimt3^ under the designation Portage, see Portage 
County, above. Under an act approved February 3, Latvs of 
Wisconsin Territory, 1846, Columbia County was erected out of 
Portage, being bounded by Dodge on the east, Marquette on 
the north, Dane on the south, Sauk on the west, and on the. 
northwest by Fox and Wisconsin rivers. 

1848. Under an act approved August 19, Laivs of 1848, the- 
legal voters of Columbia were to vote on having all west of" 
Wisconsin Eiver detached and added to Sauk County. This 
proposition was lost at the polls. 

1849. Under chapter 77, Laws of 1849, all that portion of' 
the Menominee Indian purchase south of the line between to'wn-- 
ships 13 and 14, lying between Fox and Wisconsin rivers, that 
had been an unorganized portion of Portage County, was ceded 
to Columbia, whose boundaries were thus established as at pres- 
ent. 

Lafayette, 1846. Under an act approved January 31, Laws 
of Wisconsin Territory, 1846, Lafayette County was erected by 
dividing Iowa County. The boundaries of the new county in- 
cluded townships 1-3 of ranges i-v east, and the southern half 

( 

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of townships 4 of same ranges. This division of Iowa was sub- 
mitted to referendum. Having been approved by the voters, 
the new county was by act approved February 4, Laws of Wis- 
consin Territory, 1847, declared to be erected with its present 
boundaries. 

Adams, 1848. Under an act approved March 11, Laws of 
Wisconsin Territory, 1848, at the last session of the Territorial 
legislature, Adams County was erected from Portage and com- 
prised the territory between Sauli County on the south; Wis- 
consin and Lemonweir rivers on the east and north; and the 
line between ranges i and ii east, on the west. 

1849. Under section 2, chapter 77, Latvs of 1849, Adams was 
enlarged to include the north half of townships 15 and townships 
16-20 of ranges ii-vii east. Section 3 of the same act deducted 
townships 14 of ranges ii-vi east from Adams and added them to 
Sauk. 

1853. Under chapter 29, General Laws of 1853, the bound- 
aries of Adams w^ere enlarged to include townships 14-20, in 
ranges ii-vii east. 

1855. Under chapter 28, General Jjaws of 1855, the legal 
voters of Adams were to vote on a division of the county by 
"Wisconsin River, the western portion to constitute Juneau 
County. 

1856. Under chapter 130, General Laws of 1856, Juneau 
County was formally organized from territory west of Wiscon- 
sin River formerly belonging to Adams. Thus Adams was re- 
duced to its present boundaries. 

Statehood Counties, 1 848-1 908 

Wisconsin entered the Union with twenty-nine counties 
erected within its borders. During the period of statehood 
forty-two have been erected, as follows : 

Kenosha, 1850. Under chapter 39, Laws of 1850, Kenosha 
County was erected from Racine, with boundaries as at present. 

Marathon, 1850. Under chapter 226, Laws of 1850, Mara- 
thon County was formed from Portage, including all the latter 
north of the line between townships 25 and 26. The northern 
boundary of Marathon was the State line ; it embraced all be- 
tween ranges ii and ix east — that is, all of the present Marathon 

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and Lincoln, most of Oneida and Vilas, and portions of Langlade, 
Taylor, Price, and Iron. 

1860. Under chapter 120, General Laivs of 1860, the bound- 
aries of Marathon were enlarged by all the townships of range 
X, north of the line between townships 25 and 26. This terri- 
tory was taken from Oconto and Shawano counties. 

1874. Under chapter 128, Laws of 1874, all north of town 
ship 30 was erected into Lincoln County. 

1875. Under chapter 178, Laws of 1875, Taylor County was 
erected, taking from Marathon township 30 of range ii east, 
Marathon was thus reduced to its present boundaries. 

Oconto, 1851. Under chapter 31, Laws of 1851, Oconto 
County was erected out of Brown. It comprised all north and 
east of the line between townships 25 and 26, from Green Bay 
to range xix east, thence south to the line between townships 
24 and 25, thence west to Wolf Eiver, north with that to the 
boundary of Marathon, and thence to the State boundary. 

1853. Under chapter 9, General Laws of 1853, Shawano 
County was formed, taking from Oconto all of townships 25, 26, 
and 27 east of Wolf River, west of the line between ranges xviii 
and xix, and such fractional portions of townships 27-29 range 
XV east, as lie east of Wolf River. 

1854. Under section 3, chapter 23, General Laws of 1854, 
townships 28-30 of ranges xv-xvii east were detached from 
Oconto and added to Shawano. 

1856. Under section 3, chapter 45, General Laws of 1856, 
Oconto was enlarged by all that portion of Winnebago lying 
north of township 29 — that is, all north of Shawano and east 
of Marathon. Oconto then included the present Oconto, Mari- 
nette, Forest, and Florence counties, and portions of Langlade, 
Oneida, and Vilas. 

1860. Under chapter 119, General Laws of 1860, townships 
28-30 of ranges xv-xvii east, already annexed to Shawano, were 
declared detached from Oconto and annexed to Shawano. Under 
chapter 120 of the same year, all the townships of range x east 
lying within Oconto were detached and annexed to Marathon. 

1879. Under chapter 114, Laws of 1879, New (now Lang- 
lade) and Marinette counties were cut off from Oconto and 
Shawano. The former cut off all north of the line between 

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townships 30 and 31, in ranges xi-xiv east; Marinette, all of 
its present territory and that part of Florence east of the line 
between ranges xvi and xvii east. Under section 1 of the same 
act, townships 30 of ranges xi-xiv east were detached from 
Oconto and added to Shawano ; while townships 28-30 of ranges 
xvi and xvii east, were reapportioned to Oconto. 

1881. Under section 2, chapter 7, Laivs of 1881, the western 
portion of towTiship 31 of range xv east was taken from Oconto 
and given to Shawano. 

1882. Under chapter 165, Laws of 1882, townships 37 and 38 
of ranges xv and xvi east were detached from Oconto and added 
to Marinette, to form part of the new county of Florence. 

1885. Under section 2, chapter 436, Laws of 1885, townships 
34-37 of ranges xv and xvi east, were taken from Oconto, to 
form part of Forest County. Thus Oconto was reduced to its 
present boundaries. 

Door, 1851. Under chapter 66, Laivs of 1851, Door County 
was erected from Brown, comprising the present Door and Ke- 
waunee counties. 

1852. Under chapter 363, Laws of 1852, Kewaunee County 
was formed from Door, the latter being thus reduced to its pres- 
ent boimdaries. 

Waushara, 1851, Under chapter 71, Laws of 1851, all of 
Marcjuette County north of the line between to"OTiships 17 and 
18 was set off to form Waushara, which was given its existing 
boundaries. 

Outagamie, 1851. Under chapter 83, Laws of 1851, town- 
ships 21-24 of ranges xv-xviii east, and the west half of xix east 
were set off from Brown County to form Outagamie. 

1852. Under chapter 77, Laws of 1852, the boundaries of 
Outagamie County were defined as they are at present. 

Waupaca (originally Waupacca), 1851. Under chapter 78, 
Laws of 1S51, AVaupaeca County was formed from Winnebago 
of towTiships 21-25 in ranges xi-xiv east, and such fractional 
part of township 25, range xv east as lies west of Wolf River. 

1860. Under section 2, chapter 217, General Laws of 1860, 
the above boundaries were amended so as to include in Waupacca 
County all of township 25, range xv east, the fractional part 
added being taken from Shawano County. 

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Wisconsin Counties 

1864. Under chapter 411, General Laivs of 1864, the or- 
thography of the county was established as Waupaca. 

Vernon (originally Bad Ax), 1851. Under chapter 131, 
Laws of 1851, Bad Ax County was created from Crawford. It 
included the northern half of township 11, and all of townships 
12-14 of ranges ii-vii west. This was amended by chapter 132 
of the same year, modifying the boundaries of Bad Ax (Vernon) 
so as not to conflict with the territory of Richland, thus giving 
the former the boundaries it has at present. 

1862. Under chapter 137, General Laws of 1862, the name 
Bad Ax was changed to Vernon. 

La Crosse, 1851. Under chapter 131, Laics of 1851, La 
Crosse County was created from territory that had been part of 
Crawford; it comprised all of the latter north of the line be- 
tween townships 14 and 15, between ranges ii and vii west. 
Chapter 132 of the same year amended that act, changing the 
boundaries of Bad Ax (now Vernon) County, and making La 
Crosse consist of all of Crawford north and northwest of Bad 
Ax. This made La Crosse include the present La Crosse, Mon- 
roe, Jackson, and Trempealeau counties, and parts of Clark and 
Buffalo. 

1853. Under chapter 8, General Laws of 1853, Jackson 
County was cut off from La Crosse, comprising all north of the 
line between townships 18 and 19. 

1854. Under chapter 2, General Laws of 1854, Trempealeau 
County was organized, taking from La Crosse that portion of 
township 18 that lies west of Black River. Under section 1, 
chapter 35, of the same year, a fractional part of La Crosse 
lying west of Trempealeau River, in township 18, was annexed 
to Buffalo. Under section 2 of the same chapter, all of La 
Crosse east of the line between ranges iv and v west was set off 
to form Monroe. La Crosse was thus reduced to its present 
limits. 

1856. Under chapter 145, General Laws of 1856, townships 19 
in ranges v and vi west were taken from Jackson to constitute 
part of La Crosse. 

1857. Under chapter 17, General Laws of 1857, to'wnships 
20-24 of ranges v and vi west, 22 and 23 of range iv west — that 
is, most of Jackson west of Black River — were detached from 

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that county and annexed to La Crosse. Under chapter 42 of 
the same year, the two preceding acts were repealed, and all 
north of the line between townships 18 and 19 was restored to 
Jackson County. La Crosse thereby resumed its present bound- 
aries. 

Kewaunee, 1852. Under chapter 363, Laws of 1852, Kewau- 
nee County was erected from territory formerly belonging to 
Door, with boundaries as at present. 

Jackson, 1853. Under chapter 8, General Laws of 1853, Jack- 
son County was cut off from La Crosse, and comprised all of the 
territory formerly in that county, north of the line between 
townships 18 and 19. Jackson thus included all of its present 
territory, most of Clark and Trempealeau counties, and a part 
of Buffalo. Under chapter 100 of the same year, all of Jackson 
west of the line between ranges vii and viii west was formed 
into Buffalo Coimty; all of Jackson north of the line between 
townships 22 and 23, and east of the line between ranges iii 
and iv west was formed into Clark County. 

1854. Under chapter 2, General Laivs of 1854, townships 19- 
24 in range vii west were taken from Jackson to form Trempe- 
aleau County. Chapter 100 of the same year established the 
boundary between Chippewa and Jackson as the line between 
townships 24 and 25 ; and additional townships in range v west, 
north of township 24, were added to Clark. 

1856. Under section 1, chapter 145, General Laws of 1856, 
townships 19 of ranges v and vi west were taken from Jackson 
and added to La Crosse. Section 2 of the same act struck off 
from Jackson townships 19 of ranges i east to iv west, and an- 
nexed these five townships to Monroe County. 

1857. Under chapter 17, General Laivs of 1857, twelve more 
townships of Jackson west of Black River were detached there- 
from and annexed to La Crosse. Under chapter 42 of the same 
year, this law Avas repealed, also that noted in section 1 of chap- 
ter 145, General Lau's of 1856. Thus all these townships north 
of the line betAveen townships 18 and 19, that had been attached 
to La Crosse, now reverted to Jackson. 

1870. Under chapter 40, Private and Local Laws of 1870, 
Wood County was enlarged by toAvnships 20-22 of ranges i east 
and i west, detached from Jackson County. Under chapter 41 

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of the same year, the above-mentioned townships, with town- 
ships 21 and 22 of ranges ii and iii east except the 12 northern 
sections of townships 22, were detached from Wood and an- 
nexed to Jackson Connty. 

1872. Under chapter 33, Private and Local Laws of 1872, 
the two preceding acts were repealed and Jackson County re- 
verted to the boundaries it had had previous to 1870. 

]883. Under section 1, chapter 194, Laws of 1883, all that 
portion of the eastern half of township 19, in range v west, lying 
south and east of Black River, was detached from Jackson and 
annexed to Monroe. Jackson's boundaries were thereby ad- 
justed as at present. 

Shawano (originally Shawanaw), 1853. Under chapter 9, 
General Laws of 1853, Shawanaw County was erected from 
territory that had been part of Oconto and Winnebago counties. 
It comprised townships 26-29 of ranges xii-xiv east, and 25-27 
of ranges xv-xviii east. 

1854. Under section 3, chapter 23, General Laws of 1854, 
townships 28-30, of ranges xv-xvii east, were added to Sha- 
wanaw from Oconto County. 

1856. Under section 2, chapter 45, General Laivs of 1856,. 
townships 26-29 of ranges x and xi east were taken from Winne- 
bago County and annexed to Shawanaw. 

1860. Under chapter 119, General Tjaws of 1860, to^vnships 
28-30 of ranges xv-xvii east were declared annexed to Shawanaw 
from Oconto County; section 3 of the same act recounts that 
townships 26 and 27 of ranges xi and xii are defined as part of 
this county. Chapter 120 of the same year detached from 
Shawanaw townships 26-29 of range x east, and annexed them 
to Marathon County. Section 2, chapter 217 of the same year, 
added to Waupaca township 25, range xv east, a portion of 
which had belonged to Shawanaw. 

1864. Under chapter 411, General Laivs of 1864, the orthog- 
raphj^ of the county was fixed as Shawano. 

1879. Under chapter 114, Laws of 1879, townships 30 of 
ranges xi-xiv east were annexed to Shawano from Oconto ; while 
townships 28-30 of ranges xvi and xvii east were transferred 
from Shawano to Oconto. 

1881. Under section 1, chapter 7, Laws of 1881, defining the 

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boundaries of Langlade County, there was included therein 
to\^Tiships 30 of ranges xi and xii, which had been part of Sha- 
wano. Section 2 of the same act transferred from Langlade 
and Oconto to Shawano, townships 31-33 of ranges xiii and xiv 
east and part of township 31 in range xv east. 

1883. Under section 1, chapter 303, Laws of 1883, town- 
ships 33-33 of ranges xiii and xiv east, with the west part of 
township 3], range xv east, were detached from Shawano and 
made part of Langlade. Shawano County boundaries thereby 
became as they are at present. 

Ozaukee, 1853. Under chapter 21, General Lau's of 1853, 
Ozaukee County was erected from Washington, with its present 
boundaries. 

Poik, 1853. LTnder section 2, chapter 31, General Laws of 
1853, Polk County was erected from St. Croix, including all of 
the territory formerly therein, north of the line between town- 
ships 31 and 32. This included the present Polk, and parts of 
Barron, Washburn, and Burnett counties. 

1856. Under chapter 94, General Laws of 1856, Burnett 
County was erected, taking from Polk all north of to\^Tiship 37. 

1859. Under chapter 191, General Laws of 1859, DaUas (now 
f^arron) County was erected, taking from Polk all east of the 
line between ranges xv and xvi west. 

1862. Under chapter 387, General Laivs of 1862, townships 
32-37 in range xv west were to be detached from Dallas (now 
Barron) and re-annexed to Polk, if so determined by referen- 
dum to the voters of Dallas County. They consented to this ar- 
rangement. 

1863. Under chapter 106, General Laws of 1863, these town- 
ships were declared annexed to Polk County. 

1866. Linder chapter 466, Private and Local Laivs of 1866, 
townships 37 in ranges xviii-xx west were detached from Polk, 
and added to Burnett. Polk was thus given its present bound- 
aries. 

Pierce, 1853. Under chapter 31, General Laivs of 1853, 
Pierce County was set off from St. Croix. It comprised all of 
the territory formerly part of the latter county, south of the line 
between townships 27 and 28. These are the present boundaries 
of Pierce. 

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Buffalo, 1853. Under chapter 100, General Laivs of 1853, 
Buffalo County was erected from Jackson, which had been set off 
from La Crosse under chapter 8 of the same year, and was to 
comprise all the territory formerly a part of Jackson lying west 
of the line between ranges vii and viii west. This included most 
of the present Trempealeau County and part of the present 
Buffalo. 

1854. Under chapter 1, General Laws of 1854, all that part 
of Chippewa County east of Chippewa River, and south of the 
line between townships 24 and 25, and west of the line between 
ranges ix and x west, was annexed to Buffalo. Under chapter 2 
of the same year, Trempealeau County was cut off from Buffalo, 
comprising all east of the line between ranges ix and x west to 
Trempealeau River, thence to the Mississippi. Under section 1, 
chapter 85 of the same year, a small portion of La Crosse County 
west of Trempealeau River, and south of the line between town- 
ships 18 and 19, was annexed to Buffalo. 

1857. Under chapter 16, General Laivs of 1857, the boundary 
between Buffalo and Trempealeau counties was defined, relating 
especially to the channel of the river and the islands therein. 
Buffalo County boundaries were thereby adjusted as at present. 

Clark, 1853. Under chapter 100, General Laws of 1853, Clark 
Countj^ was formed from Jackson, out of all lands lying north of 
tiie line between townships 22 and 23, and east of the line be- 
tween ranges iii and iv west. 

1854. Under chapter 100, General Laivs of 1854, the bound- 
aries of Clark County were defined as north of the line between 
townships 23 and 24, east of the line between ranges iv and v 
west, south of the line between townships 31 and 32 , and west of 
the line betw^een ranges i and ii east; a portion of this territory 
was taken from Chippewa and the rest from Jackson County. 
According to this definition of the boundaries, the four town- 
ships 23 in ranges iii west to i east would be detached from 
Clark and annexed to Jackson. This was not actually done, 
however, and section 8 of chapter 2 of the Revised Statutes of 
1858 assigned these four townships to Clark. 

1875. Under chapter 178, Laivs of 1875, Taylor County was 
erected, taking from Clark townships 30 and 31 of ranges i east 
to iv west — that is, its ten northern townships. The boundaries 
of Clark thus became as at present. 

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Trempealeau, 1854. Under chapter 2, General Laws of 1854, 
Trempealeau County was formed from territory formerly in- 
cluded in Buffalo, Jackson, and La Crosse counties, with bound- 
aries the same as at present. 

1857. Under chapter 16, General Laws of 1857, the bound- 
aries between Buffalo and Trempealeau counties were defined, 
with relation to the channel and islands of Trempealeau and 
Mississippi rivers. Under section 2, chapter 42 of the same 
year, the boundaries between Trempealeau and La Crosse 
coimties were defined with reference to the channel of Black 
River. Trempealeau County boundaries were thus adjusted as 
at present. 

Dunn, 1854. Under chapter 7, General Laws of 1854, Dunn 
County was set off from Chippewa, including all south of the 
line between townships 31 and 32, and west of the line between 
ranges x and xi west — that is, all of the present Dunn and Pepin 
counties. 

1858. Under chapter 15, General Laws of 1858, all that por- 
tion of Dunn County lying south of the line between townships 
25 and 26 was set off for Pepin County. Dunn was thus re- 
duced to its present boundaries. 

Douglas (originally Douglass), 1854. Under chapter 10, 
General Laws of 1854, Douglass County was set off from La 
Pointe (now Bayfield), and comprised the territory formerly in- 
cluded in the latter, west of the line between ranges ix and x 
west. 

1856. Under chapter 94, General Lmvs of 1856, Burnett 
County was erected, taking from Douglass townships 41-43 of 
ranges xii-xvi west. Only a fraction of township 41 of range 
xvi west is within the boundaries of Wisconsin ; townships 42 
and 43 of ranges xvi west are part of the present Minnesota. 

1864. Under chapter 411, General Laws of 1864, the orthog- 
raphy was established as Douglas. Under chapter 466 of the 
same year, townships 41 and 42 of ranges x and xi west were de- 
tached from Douglas and added to Burnett. Under chapter 479 
of the same year, townships 43 of ranges xii-xv west were re-an- 
nexed to Douglas, being detached from Burnett. The bound- 
aries of Douglas County were thus established as at present. 

Monroe, 1854. Under chapter 35, General Laws of 1854, La 

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Wisconsin Counties 

Crosse County was divided and ]\Ionroe organized. The latter 
I'omprised townships 15-18 of ranges i east, i-iv west. 

1856. Under section 2, chapter 145, General Laivs of 1856, 
]\ionroe was enlarged by townships 19 of ranges i east, and i-iv 
west, all of them taken from Jackson County. 

1883. Under chapter 194, Laivs of 1883, part of township 19 
of range v west, south of Black River, was detached from Jack- 
son and added to Monroe, whose boundaries were thereby consti- 
tuted as at present. 

Juneau, 1855-56. Under chapter 28, General Laws of 1855, 
the legal voters of Adams County were to decide by ballot 
whether a new county named Juneau should be constituted out 
of all of Adams west of the main channel of Wisconsin River. 
If so decided, the county of Juneau should be established. The 
vote was favorable. 

1856. Under chapter 130, General Laivs of 1856, Juneau 
County was declared established, with boundaries as at present. 

Wood, 1856. Under chapter 54, General Laws of 1856, town- 
ships 21-25 of ranges ii-v east, townships 21, 22 of range vi east, 
and such part of township 23, range vi east as lies southeast of 
Wisconsin River, were detached from Portage County to form 
Wood. Under chapter 108 of the same year, this was amended 
to include all of tovraship 23, range vi east, within the bound- 
aries of Wood, which thereupon assumed its present boundaries. 
1870. Under chapter 40, Private and Local Laivs of 1870, 
Wood County was enlarged by townships 20-22 of ranges 1 east 
and i west, detached from Jackson County. This was done in 
order to render Wood County large enough to be reduced with- 
out a referendum. According to chapter 41 of the same year, 
the townships named in the preceding chapter, and likewise 
townships 21 of ranges ii and iii, and the twenty-four southern 
sections of towT.iships 22 of the same ranges, were detached from 
Wood and added to Jackson County. 

1872. Under chapter 33, Private and Local Laws of 1872, 
that portion of Jackson in townships 21 and 22, ranges ii and iii 
east, was restored to Wood County, which resumed its present 
boundaries. ' 

Burnett, 1856, Under chapter 94, General Laws of 1856, 
townships 38-40 in ranges xii-xx from Polk County, and town- 

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ships 41-43 in ranges xii-xvi from Douglas County, were to 
constitute a new county, named Burnett. 

1858. The boundaries of Burnett were adjusted by section 6, 
chapter 2, Revised Statutes of 1858, to correspond to the State 
lines, some of the territory set off in 1856 being found to be in 
Minnesota. 

1864. Under chapter 462, General Laws of 1864, Burnett was 
enlarged by townships 38-40 of ranges x, xi west, which were 
taken from Chippewa. Under chapter 466 of the same year, 
townships 41 and 42 of ranges x and xi west, were taken from 
Douglas and annexed to Burnett. Under chapter 479 of the 
same year, Burnett was reduced by townships 43 of ranges xii- 
XV west, which were returned to Douglas. 

1866. Under chapter 466, Private and Local Laivs of 1866, 
townships 37 in ranges xviii-xx were taken from Polk to be 
added to Burnett. 

1869. Under chapter 162, General Latvs of 1869, Burnett was 
enlarged by townships 37 of ranges x-xiv west, taken from Dal- 
las (now Barron) County. 

1872. Under chapter 18, Private and Local Laws of 1872, the 
above law was reversed, and townshipvs 37 of ranges x-xiv west, 
were re-annexed to Barron County. 

1874. Under chapter 248, General Laws of 1874, these same 
townships were taken from Barron, and re-annexed to Burnett. 

1883. Under chapter 172, Laivs of 1883, Burnett County was 
divided, and all west of range xiv west erected into the county 
of Washburn. Burnett County thereby assumed its present 
boundaries. 

Eau Claire, 1856. Under chapter 114, General Laivs of 1856, 
Eau Claire County was erected from Chippewa, comprising all 
the territory formerly within that county, south of the line be- 
tween townships 27 and 28. Eau Claire was thus constituted 
with its present boundaries. 

Pepin, 1858. Under chapter 15, General Laws of 1858, Pepin 
County was created from Dunn, including all the territory for- 
merly in that county, south of the line between townships 25 and 
26. Pepin was thus established with its present boundaries. 

Green Lake, 1858. Under chapter 17, General Laivs of 1858, 
Green Lake County was formed from territory previously a part 

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of Marquette County. Chapter 85 of the same year changed the 
boundaries, making Green Lake include all east of the line be- 
tween ranges x and xi east, except the west four tiers of sections 
in to\ATiships 16 and 17 of range xi east. 

1859. Under chapter 69, General Laws of 1859, township 16 
of range xiv, containing the city of Kipon, was to be detached 
from Fond du Lac and annexed to Green Lake, if the qualified 
voters of Fond du Lac so decided. The popular vote was 
against this proposition. 

1860. Under chapter 143, General Laws of 1860, the bound- 
aries between Green Lake and Marquette counties were defined 
as they are at present. 

1862. Under chapter 23, General Laws of 1862, an act was 
passed to change these boundaries if it should so be voted by the 
two coiuities ; the people negatived the proposal. 

1863. Under chapter 191, General Laws of 1863, the attempt 
was renewed, but again it was voted down by the electors. 

Barron (originally Dallas), 1859. Under chapter 191 Gen- 
eral Laws of 1859, Dallas County was erected from Pollr, em- 
bracing territory comprised in townships 32-37 of ranges xii-xv 
west. 

1860. Under chapter 235, General Laws of 1860, Dallas was 
enlarged by toAvnships 32-37 in ranges x and xi west, taken from 
Chippewa County. 

1862. Under chapter 387, General Laivs of 1862, the voters 
of Dallas were to determine whether townships 32-37 in range 
XV should be re-annexed to Polk. The vote w^as favorable. 

1863. Under chapter 106, General Laws of 1863, these town- 
ships were declared a part of Polk County. 

1869. Under chapter 75, General Jjaivs of 1869, the name of 
Dallas County was changed to Barron. Under chapter 162 of 
the same year, townships 37 of ranges x-xiv west were detached 
from Dallas (now Barron) and annexed to Burnett. 

1872. Under chapter 18, Private and Local Laivs of 1872, the 
foregoing act was repealed, and these towns reverted to Barron. 

1874. Under chapter 248, General Laivs of 1874, the act of 
repeal was reversed and the townships in question were made 
part of Burnett. Barron was thereby left with its present 
boundaries. 

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Ashland, 1860. Under chapter 211, General Laws of 1860, 
Ashland County was organized from La Pointe (now Bayfield) 
County. It included all of the latter county south and east of 
the line between townships 44 and 45 to the line between ranges 
V and vi west, thence north to the line between townships 49 and 
50, thence east to the centre of the channel of the Bay of La 
Pointe, and between the mainland and Apostle Islands to the 
State boundary. This included all of the present Ashland 
County, and parts of Iron, Sawyer, and Bayfield. 

1866. Under chapter 146, General Laws of 1866, townships 
48 and 49 of range v west, and such fractional parts of town- 
ships 48 and 49 of range iv west as lie west of Long Island Bay, 
were detached from Ashland and annexed to Bayfield County. 

1869. Under chapter 116, General Laws of 1869, townships 
43-47 of range v west, and 43 and 44 of ranges vi-ix west (13 
townships in all), were detached from Ashland and re-annexed 
to Bayfield County. 

1883. Under chapter 47, Laws of 1883, ten townships (41 and 
42, ranges v-ix west) were detached from Ashland to form part 
of Sawyer County. Under chapter 74 of the same year, town- 
ships 41-47 of ranges ii and iii east — fourteen townships, sev- 
eral of which were fractional — were annexed to Ashland from 
territory formerly a part of liincoln. 

1893. Under chapter 8, Latvs of 1893, Iron County was 
erected from Ashland, cutting off for this purpose, townships 
41-47 of ranges ii and iii east, 43^7 of range i east, and 44-47 
of range i west. 

1903. Under section 1, chapter 303, Laws of 1903, the bound- 
aries of Ashland County were defined as at present. 

Lincoln, 1874. Under chapter 128, Latvs of 1874, Lincoln 
County was erected from Marathon, including all the territory 
formerly within the latter 's boundaries north of the line be- 
tween to\^^lships 30 and -31. This included all of the present 
Lincoln, most of Oneida and Vilas, and parts of Langlade, Tay- 
lor, Price, and Iron counties. 

1875. Under chapter 178, Laws of 1875, Taylor County was 
erected, taking from Lincoln townships 31-33 in ranges ii and 
iii east. 

1879. Under section 1, chapter 103, Laivs of 1879, Price 

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Wisconsin Counties 

County was erected, detaching from Lincoln townships 34r-40 in 
ranges ii and iii east. 

1883. Under chapter 74, Laws of 1883, townships 41-47, in 
ranges ii and iii east were detached from Lincohi and annexed to 
Ashland. 

1885. Under section 1, chapter 436, Laws of 1885, townships 
31-34 of ranges ix and x east were detached from Lincoln and 
annexed to Langlade. Under chapter 411 of the same year, 
Oneida County was formed out of all of Lincoln north of the 
line between townships 34 and 35, ranges ix and x east, and 
north of the line between townships 35 and 36, ranges iv-viii 
east. Thus was Lincoln reduced to its present boundaries. 

Taylor, 1875. Under chapter 178, Laivs of 1875, Taylor 
County was formed from territory formerly belonging to Lin- 
coln, Clark, Marathon, and Chippewa counties. From Lincoln 
were taken six townships, 31-33, ranges ii and iii east; from 
Clark, ten townships, 30 and 31 in ranges i east, i-iv west ; from 
Marathon, one township 30 of range ii east ; from Chippewa, ten 
townships, 32 and 33, ranges i east, i-iv west — in all, 27 town- 
ships with the present boundaries. 

Langlade (originally New), 1879. Under section 12, chap- 
ter 114, Laws of 1879, New County was erected from Oconto, 
with imperfect boundaries. 

1880. Under chapter 19, Laws of 1880, the name of New 
County was changed to Langlade. Under chapter 247 of the 
same year, chapter 114 of 1879 was amended, correcting the 
boundaries of Langlade. These now consisted of the line be- 
tween townships 30 and 31 on the south ; the line between ranges 
X and xi east on the west ; the State line on the north ; the line 
between ranges xiv and xv east on the east, thus including parts 
of the present Langlade, Oneida, Vilas, and Forest counties. 

1881. Under section 1, chapter 7, Laws of 1881, the bound- 
aries of Langlade were readjusted, whereby townships 30 of 
ranges xi and xii east were detached from Shawano and annexed 
to Langlade. Under section 2 of the same chapter, townships 
31-33 of ranges xiii and xiv east were detached from Langlade 
and annexed to Shawano. 

1883. Under chapter 303, Laws of 1883, these last six town- 
ships were again detached from Shawano and re-annexed to 

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Langlade, together with a fractional portion of township 31 of 
range xv east. This w^as subject to confirmation by a referen- 
dum to the voters of Shawano County. The vote was favorable. 

1885. Under chapter 137, Laws of 1885, the territory men- 
tioned in the preceding act was declared annexed to Langlade. 
Under section 1, chapter 436 of the same year, townships 31-34 
of ranges ix and x east were detached from Lincoln and added to 
Langlade. Under section 2 of the same chapter. Forest County 
was erected, taking from Langlade all of the townships north of 
the line between 34 and 35 in ranges xiii and xiv east, and all 
north of the line between townships 35 and 36 in ranges xi and xii 
east. 

1898. Under section 34, chapter 2, Revised Statutes of 1898, 
Langlade's boundaries were so defined that townships 30 of 
ranges xi and xii east were accidentally omitted from its terri- 
tory. 

1907. Under chapter 107, Laws of 1907, Langlade's boun- 
daries were modified to include toA^Tiships 30 of ranges xi and 
xii east. 

Marinette, 1879. Under chapter 114, Laws of 1879, Mari- 
nette County was formed from territory formerly belonging to 
Oconto. Tlie new county had the State line for its east and 
north boundaries ; the south and west were the same as at pres- 
ent, except that the boundary range line between xvi and xvii 
east on the west, extended to the State line, including in Mari- 
nette a part of Florence County. 

1882. Under section 1, chapter 165, Laws of 1882, the town- 
ships of Oconto north of the line between townships 37 and 38 
in ranges xv and xvi were detached from that county and an- 
nexed to Marinette. Section 2 of the same chapter erected the 
county of Florence, embracing all of Marinette north of the 
line between townships 37 and 38, and west of range xx east, in- 
cluding the new cession from Oconto. Marinette's boundaries 
were thus reduced to those of the present. 

Price, 1879. Under chapter 103, Laws of 1879, Price County 
was formed from territory formerly part of Chippewa and Lin- 
coln counties — townships 34-40 in ranges ii and iii east, from 
Lincoln ; and townships 34—40 in ranges i east, i and ii west, 
from Chippewa. Price County war. thus erected with the 
boundaries it has at present. 

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Wisconsin Counties 

Florence, 1882. Under chapter 165, Laivs of 1882, Florence 
County was created from ]\Iarinette, including all east of the 
line between ranges xiv and xv east, north of the line between 
townships 37 and 38, and west of the line between ranges xix and 
XX east ; of this territory, the townships in ranges xiv and xv had 
been, by the same chapter, added to Marinette from Oconto. 
Florence was thus formed from both Oconto and Marinette, with 
its present boimdaries. 

Washburn, 1883. Under chapter 172, Laws of 1883, Wash- 
burn County was erected from Burnett, comprising all of the 
latter east of a line between ranges xiii and xiv west; that is, 
townships 37-42 of ranges x-xiii west. Washburn was thus or- 
ganized with its present boundaries. 

Sawyer, 1883, Under chapter 47, Laivs of 1883, Sawyer 
Countj'^ was organized from territory formerly a part of Chip- 
pewa and Ashland. Ten townships, 41 and 42 of ranges v-ix 
west, were taken from Ashland ; twenty-eight townships, 37-40 of 
ranges iii-ix west, from Chippewa. Sawyer County was accord- 
ingly erected with its present boundaries. 

Oneida, 1885. Under chapter 411, Laivs of 1885, Oneida 
County was formed from Lincoln, comprising all of the terri- 
tory formerly in that county north of townships 34 in ranges ix 
and X east, and that north of townships 35 in ranges iv-viii east. 
This included most of what is now Oneida and Vilas counties, 
and a part of Iron. 

1893. Under chapter 150, Laws of 1893, Vilas County wa&, 
erected from Oneida, and townships 41-44 of range iv east de- 
tached from Oneida and added to Iron County. This cut off' 
all of Oneida north of the line between townships 39 and 40,, 
and also townships 39 of ranges vi and vii east. Under chapter- 
275 of the same year, to^vnships 35 in ranges ix and x east were 
detached from Oneida and annexed to Forest. 

1897. Under section 1, chapter 278, Laws of 1897, the north 
half of township 39 of range x east was detached from Oneida 
and annexed to Vilas County. Under section 2 of the same 
chapter, tOTVTiships 35 of ranges ix and x east were restored to 
Oneida from Forest ; and townships 35-39 of range xi were taken 
from Forest and annexed to Oneida. 

1905. Under chapter 57, Laws of 1905, townships 39 of ranges 

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vi and vii east were detached from Vilas and annexed to Oneida 
County, whose boundaries became as they are at present. 

Forest, 1885. Under section 2, chapter 436, Laws of 1885, 
Forest County was erected from territory formerly belonging to 
Langlade and Oconto; townships 34r-41 in ranges xiii and xiv 
east, and 35-42 in ranges xi and xii east, were taken from Lan- 
glade; townships 34-37 in ranges xv and xvi east, were taken 
from Oconto County. 

1893. Under chapter 275, Laws of 1893, townships 35 in 
ranges ix and x east were taken from Oneida and annexed to 
Forest. 

1897. Under section 1, chapter 278, Laws of 1897, townships 
40-42 of range xi east were detached from Forest and annexed 
to Vilas County. Under section 2 of the same chapter, townships 
35 in ranges ix and x east, and townships 35-39 in range xi east 
were detached from Forest County and annexed to Oneida. 

1905. Under chapter 202, Laivs of 1905, townships 41 and 
42 of range xii east were detached from Forest and annexed to 
Vilas County. Forest County thus assumed its present bound- 
aries. 

Iron, 1893. Under chapter 8, Laws of 1893, Iron County 
was erected from territory previously a part of Ashland, includ- 
ing all formerly in that county in ranges ii and iii east, town- 
ships 43-47 in range i east, and townships 44^47 in range i west. 
Under chapter 150 of the same year, townships 41-44 of range 
iv east were detached from Oneida and annexed to Iron, which 
thus attained its present boundaries. 

Vilas, 1893. Under chapter 150, Laws of 1893, Vilas County 
was erected from territory formerly a part of Oneida, compris- 
ing all of that county lying between ranges v and x east, north 
of the line between townships 39 and 40, and townships 39 of 
ranges vi and vii east, and township 40 of range iv east. 

1897. Under chapter 278, Laws of 1897, townships 40-42 of 
range xi east, were detached from Forest, and annexed to Vilas ; 
and the north half of to^Aiiship 39 in range x east was detached 
from Oneida and annexed to Vilas. 

1905. Under chapter 57, Laws of 1905, townships 39 of ranges 
vi and vii east were detached from Vilas and re-annexed to 
Oneida. Under chapter 202 of the same year townships 41 and 

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42 of range xii east were added to Vilas from Forest County. 
Vilas was thus given its present boundaries. 

Rusk (originally Gates), 1901. Under chapter 469, Laws of 
1901, Gates County was erected from Chippewa, comprising 
townships 33 of ranges v-ix west and townships 34^36 of ranges 
iii-ix west, its present boundaries. 

1905. Under chapter 463, Laws of 1905, the name was 
changed from Gates to Rusk. 



Derivation of County Names 

Adams was named for one of the presidents of that name — 
^Vis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 112. Henry Gannett, ''Origin of Cer- 
tain Place Names in the United States," in U. S. Geological 
Survey Bulletin, No. 197 (Washington, 1902), p. 18, credits as 
the name giver, John Quincy Adams, the sixth president. His- 
tory of Northern Wisconsin (Chicago, 1881), p. 60, says that 
this county was named for John Adams, the second president. 

Ashland was named from the village, and that in honor of 
the Kentucky homestead of Henry Clay — Gannett, Place 
Names, p. 29. Martin Beaser, one of the first settlers of the 
village, and an ardent admirer of Henry Clay, is credited with 
the selection of the name — Hist. No. Wis., p. 67. 

Barron (originally Dallas). The original name was bestowed 
in honor of George Mifflin Dallas, vice-president of the United 
States (1845-49). Barron was selected in honor of Henry D. 
Barron (1833-82). Born in New York state, Barron removed 
to "Wisconsin in 1851, and was for a time editor and postmaster 
at Waukesha. In 1857 he entered law practice at Pepin, where 
in 1860 he was appointed judge of the eighth circuit. In the 
following year he removed to St. Croix Falls, where he there- 
after resided. He was several times member of the assembly, 
and state senator (1873-75). In 1876 he was appointed judge 
of the eleventh circuit, a position held until his death — Wis. 
Hist. Colls., ix, pp. 405-409. 

Bayfield (originally La Pointe). The original name was the 
French appellation for the entire locality about Chequamegon 
Bay, named "La Pointe de Chequamegon," by Father Allouez. 

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The Jesuit mission there established by him in 1665 was known 
as La Pointe du St. Esprit — see Wis. Hist. Colls., xiii, p. 404, 
and accompanying note. In the eighteenth century, the French 
post here established was frequently spoken of as "La Pointe" 
(for an example, see Wis. Hist. Colls., xvii, p. 9), although the 
official designation was Chequamegon. The name La Pointe 
was finally, in the nineteenth century, limited to the trading 
village on Madelaine Island, for which place the county was 
named. About 1857 the town of Bayfield was established, being 
promoted by Henry M. Rice of St. Paul, who named it for Ad- 
miral Henry W. Bayfield, R. N., who surveyed Lake Superior 
for the English government in 1823-25. Bayfield (1795-1865) 
first came to America in 1814, and from 1817-25 was employed 
as admiralty surveyor for the Great Lakes ; later, he performed 
a like service for the river and gulf of St. Lawrence, dying at 
Charlottetown, P. E. I., after attaining the rank of admiral. 

Brown was named for Major-General Jacob Bro^^^l of the 
United States Army • — Gannett, Place Names, p. 33 ; Wis. Hist. 
Colls., i, p. 112. General Brown (1775-1828), born in Penn- 
sylvania, was a successful leader in the War of 1812-15. At its 
close he retained the command of the Northern division, and in 
1821 was made general-in-chief of the army. He died at "Wash- 
ington. D. C. 

Buffalo was named for its chief river, Beef or Buffalo, so 
designated because of the former presence of that animal in the 
vicinity — Gannett, Place Names, p. 55. Buffalo River was 
so named by Father Louis Hennepin in his voyage (1680) up 
the IMississippi. See Thwaites, Hennepin's Neiu Discovery 
(Chicago, 1905), p. 222, where the explorer calls it "River of 
Wild Bulls ; " on the accompanying map, it is designated ' ' River 
of Oxen." The French voyageurs called this stream Riviere des 
Bceufs ; hence its present designation, Beef River. 

Burnett was named for Thomas P. Burnett, an early Wis- 
consin legislator — Wis. Hist. Colls., ii, p. 325 ; Gannett, Place 
Names, p. 55. Although of Virginia birth, Burnett (1800-46) 
emigrated to Kentucky when a child, and was there educated, 
practicing law at Paris in that state. In 1829 he was appointed 
sub-Indian agent at Prairie du Chien, and thereafter made that 
place his home until 1837, when he removed to Cassville. After 
five years service in the Indian department he again took up the 

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Wisconsin Counties 

practice of law, and was influential in Wisconsin Territorial 
legislation. 

Calumet was named for a Menominee Indian village situated 
on the southeast shore of Lake Winnebago — see Wis. Hist. Colls., 
vi, p. 171; F. W. Hodge, "Handbook of American Indians," in 
U. S. Bureau of Ethnology Bulletin No. 30, p. 195. The origin 
of the word is the Norman-French form of chalumet, a tube or 
reed, which was applied by French Canadians to the Indian 
implement known as ''the pipe of peace" — Gannett, Place 
Names, p. 59; Handbook, p. 191. 

Chippewa was named from its principal river, which was 
given this Indian tribal designation by French voyageurs. The 
first name applied by the early explorers to this stream was Bon 
Secours ; it likewise occasionally appears on early maps as Bac- 
queville, possibly in honor of Bacqueville de la Potherie, the 
Canadian historian. About the middle of the eighteenth cen- 
tury the Chippewa tribesmen began to settle in this region, and 
founded villages on the headwaters of the stream — Minn. Hist. 
Colls., V. Thereafter the river began to be called from the 
French form of their name. Riviere des Sauteurs. Jonathan 
Carver applies the term Chippewa to the stream which he as- 
cended in 1766, and appended this name to the map that ap- 
peared in the edition of his Travels published in 1778. From 
thence until the time of American occupation, the river was 
known by either term — des Sauteurs or Chippewa. For the sig- 
nificance of this tribal name, see Gannett, Place Names, p. 72; 
HandhooJc, p. 277. 

Clark was named in honor of Gen. George Rogers Clark, the 
conqueror of the Northwest during the American Revolution — 
Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 12. Gannett, Place Names, p. 74, says the 
name was given for A. W. Clark, an early settler. Dr. Lyman 
C. Draper, then editor of Wis. Hist. Colls., was, however, in a 
position to know. Clark County was erected in 1853 ; the 
same year. Dr. Draper came to Madison as secretary of the 
Wisconsin Historical Society. He was the acknowledged au- 
thority on the life and services of Gen. George Rogers Clark, 
whose papers form so large and valuable a portion of the Draper 
MSS. now in the keeping of the Society. Draper knew many of 
the prominent legislators, and no doubt suggested the name as a 

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fitting one for the county about to be established. His testimony 
thereon must be considered as conclusive. 

Gen. George Eogers Clark (1752-1818) was of Virginia birth, 
and early emigrating to Kentucky took a prominent share in its 
defense (1775-78). In 1778 he captured from the British the 
Illinois towns, and the next year, the village of Vincennes, tak- 
ing prisoner Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton of Detroit. 
Throughout the Eevolution he was active in defense of the fron- 
tier, and has been styled the ' ' Washington of the West. ' ' 

Columbia (originally Portage; see Portage, post.) was 
probably named in honor of Christopher Columbus — Wis. Hist. 
Colls., i, p. 112. Gannett, Place Names, p. 79, appears to indi- 
cate that the name was taken from Columbia River. It was 
more probably given because of the town of Columbus, which 
was first established as Columbus precinct in 1842, and was the 
first county-seat of Columbia County — see A. J. Turner, Family 
Tree of Colmnliia County (Portage, 1904). 

Crawford was named in honor of William H. Crawford 
(1772-1834), secretary of the treasury under Monroe — Wis. 
Hist. Colls, i, p. 112 ; Gannett, Place Names, p. 85. The county 
was, in fact, named for Fort Crawford, which took its title from 
Secretary Crawford. This fortification was built in 1816 by 
Maj. Willoughby Morgan, U. S. A.— Wis. Hist. Colls., ii, p. 122. 

Dane was named in honor of Nathan Dane, framer of the Or- 
dinance of 1787, establishing the Northwest Territory — Wis. 
Hist. Colls., vi, pp. 388-395. 

Dodge was named for Henry Dodge, first Territorial governor 
of Wisconsin— m's. Hist. Colls., i, p. 112. Henry Dodge (1783- 
1867) came from Missouri to Wisconsin in 1827, after service in 
the War of 1812-15. He was active during the Winnebago up- 
rising (1827) and a colonel during the Black Hawk War (1832). 
Appointed first Territorial governor, he served eight years in 
that capacity (1836-41; 1845^8), during the intervening years 
(1841-45), he was Territorial delegate to Congress. On the or- 
ganization of the State he was elected first U. S. senator, and be- 
ing re-elected in 1851 served nine years in that capacity (1848- 
57) . His home during pre-Territorial days was at Dodgeville. 

Door took its name from the straits between the mainland and 
Washington Island, locally known as Death's Door, a translation 

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from the French voyageur term, "La Porte des Morts" (the 
door of the dead) — Wis. Hist. Colls., vi, p. 166. The origin of 
this name is traditionary, probably having arisen from the 
dangerous character of these waters — Hist. No. Wis., p. 253. 

Douglas was named in honor of Stephen A. Douglas, U. S. 
senator from Illinois (1847-61), and Democratic candidate for 
the presidency in 1860. 

Dunn was named in honor of Charles Dunn, first chief justice 
of Wisconsin Territory — Gannett, Place Names, p. 98. Charles 
Dunn (1799-1872) was born in Kentucky, where he studied law, 
but was admitted to the bar (1820) in Illinois. During his resi- 
dence in that state he served as captain in the Black Hawk War, 
wherein he was accidentally shot by a sentinel. In 1829 he as- 
sisted in laying out the plat of Chicago. Appointed chief jus- 
tice of Wisconsin Territory in 1836, he served throughout the 
Territorial era, also acting as member of the second State consti- 
tutional convention. In 1852-53 he was State senator from La- 
fayette County, and died at his home at Belmont (now Leslie), 
in that county. 

Eau Claire is named for its chief river, a tributary of the 
Chippev^a. The name is a French rendering of the Indian term, 
Wah-yah-con-ut-ta-qua-3^aw Sebe (Clear Water) — Wis. Hist. 
Colls., i, p. 120. Gannett, Place Namies, p. 100, erroneously 
states that this county is named for the river of the same name 
in Michigan. 

Florence was named by H. D. Fisher in honor of Mrs. Flor- 
ence Hulst, wife of Dr. N. P. Hulst of Milwaukee. The name 
was first applied to the Florence iron mine; and then to the 
town and county. 

Fond du Lac was named for its situation at the end of Lake 
Winnebago, being a French term for the head of a lake — Wis. 
Hist. Colls., i, p. 112. 

Forest was named for the dense forest with which it was 
covered when erected — Gannett, Place Names, p. 112. 

Grant was named for a river of that name flowing into the 
Mississippi. The origin of the name of the stream is tradition- 
ary, being ascribed to "a trapper who had his cabin on its 
banks" — Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 112. The name was probably as- 
signed during the English regime in Wisconsin (1763-96), when 

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a number of Scotch and English traders made headquarters at 
Prairie du Chien, or at Cahokia, Illinois, and traded up and 
down the river. Among these was one James Grant (see Wis. 
Hist. Colls., X, p. 503), a prominent Montreal merchant; see Id., 
xii, p. 65. The Indian appellation for the stream appears to 
have been ''Shequak;" see map in William H. Keating, Long's 
Expedition up the Mississippi (Philadelphia, 1824). 

Green is supposed to have been named for Gen. Nathaniel 
Greene, of Kevolutionary fame — Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 112 ; 
Gannett, Place Names, p. 124. C. W. Butterfield, History of 
Green County (Springfield, 111., 1884), p. 257, asserts, how- 
ever, that the countj^ was named by its first representative in the 
legislature, William Boyles, because of the green appearance of 
its vegetation ; the name of General Greene was suggested, but 
not adopted. See also Wis. Hist. Colls., iii, pp. 424, 425. 

Green Lake was named for its principal body of water, a 
beautiful sheet of a distinctly emerald color. The lake was 
called by the French Lac Verd, which the early settlers trans- 
lated into Green hake—Hist. No. Wis., p. 349. See also Dart's 
narrative, post. 

Iowa was named for the Siouan tribe that gave its name like- 
wise to the state of Iowa. Probably these Indians were first met 
by the early French explorers beyond the Mississippi. In the 
eighteenth century this tribe seems to have removed to IMissouri 
Kiver; see Wis. Hist. Colls., xvii, p. 248. After the close of the 
French regime, they were again on the Mississippi, occupying 
both banks — Id., i, p. 32. It was probably at this time that they 
were found in the region of the original Iowa County, later the 
habitat of the Sauk, Foxes, and Winnebago. 

Iron was named for the amount of this ore to be found withii?. 
its limits — Gannett, Place Names, p. 144. 

Jackson was named in honor of President Andrew Jackson — ■ 
Gannett, Place Names, p. 145. 

Jefferson was named in honor of President Thomas Jofferson 
— Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 113. 

Juneau was named in honor of Solomon Juneau, an early 
French trader on the site of Milwaukee, and first mayor of that 
city. Born in 1793 in Canada, as a youth Juneau began trading 
at Mackinac, whence he went to Milwaukee in 1818, as an em- 

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Wisconsin Counties 

ploye of Jacques Vieau. Juneau was the first postmaster of the 
town (1835), assisted in laying out the first plat of the city (his 
partner being Morgan L. Martin of Green Bay), and served as 
mayor after its incorporation (1846). In later life he removed 
to Dodge County, and died in 1856 at Shawano, while attending 
an Indian payment. 

Kenosha was named for its principal town, which was first 
known as Southport. As this settlement was situated upon Pike 
Creek, a change was made to the Indian word for that fish — 
Wis. Hist. Colls., iii, p. 414. See also Handbook, i, p. 673, where 
' ' Kenozhe, ' ' signifying pickerel, is given to a Chippewa gens. 

Kewaunee was named for its chief river, which was early 
known as "Wood's River. In 1834 Joshua Hathaway, an early 
Wisconsin surveyor, rechristened it from the Chippewa word 
which he translated as "prairie hen" — Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 
117. Verwyst, in Id. xii, p. 392, considers the word equivalent 
to a peninsula, almost surrounded by water, from the Chippewa 
term, " ' I cross a point of land by boat. ' ' 

La Crosse was named from the village of La Crosse, which 
was established upon a tract known to early Mississippi voyagers 
as La Prairie de la Crosse. La crosse was the French term for 
an Indian ball game which was frequently played upon this 
spot — see Wis. Hist. Colls., iv, p. 383. Pike notes this locality in 
his voyage of 1805. See Handbook, p. 127, for a description of 
the game and the implements used therein. 

Lafayette was named in honor of IMarquis de Lafayette, of 
Revolutionary fame — Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 113. 

Langlade was named for Charles Langlade, formerly consid- 
ered the first settler of the State. It is now known, however, 
that he did not permanently remove to Green Bay from Mack- 
inac until 1764, and had been preceded by several others — Wis. 
Hist. Colls., xviii, p. 132. Langlade (1729-1800) was born in 
]\Iackinac, and served as an officer in the French and Indian and 
Revolutionaiy wars. He became the most prominent citizen of 
the small French settlement at Green Bay, where he had an ex- 
tensive fur-trading establishment. 

Lincoln was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln — 
Gannett, Place Names, p. 161. 

Manitowoc takes its name from a small river within its bound- 
aries. The origin of this Indian word is variously given. The 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

first constituent, "manito," is conceded by all to be the Indian 
word for spirit, or mysterious influence; hence "spirit land," 
"devil's den," etc., have been assigned as its meanings Wis. 
Eist. Colls., i, p. 117 ; iii, p. 337 ; Gannett, Place Names, p. 170. 
Eev. E. P. Wheeler (Ms. in Society's library) gives its signifi- 
csnce as "spirit woods;" which appears to be borne out by 
Henry R. Schoolcraft, who says it signifies ' ' a standing or hollow 
tree that is under a mysterious influence." This would seem to 
point to the erection of a wooden cross on the banks of this river, 
allusion to which we find in the journal of Father J. B. Buisson 
St. Cosme, dated 1699-1700. He declares that such a cross was 
reared in this locality in the latter part of the seventeenth 
century. His words are : ' ' the 4th of October we came to an- 
other small village of Poux [Potawatomi] on a little river where 
Eev. Father Marais had \\dntered with some Frenchmen and 
planted a cross" — J. G. Shea, Early Voyages (Albany, 1861), 
p. 50. We are inclined to think that the name Manitowoc was 
derived from the presence of this large wooden cross, such as the 
Jesuit missionaries frequently planted in the villages of their 
neophytes. 

Marathon was named from the famous Greek battlefield — 
Gannett, Place Names, p. 171. 

Marinette took its title from the village which was named for 
Marinette Chevalier (1793-1865), a French-Chippewa half- 
breed, wife of John B. Jacobs, and later of William Farnsworth; 
the last-named settled on this site in 1822. There had pre- 
viously been here a trading-post of the American Fur Company, 
and it continued as a trade centre for many years, largely under 
the direction of Marinette, who had much business ability. The 
town was platted by her son, John B. Jacobs — See Hist. No. 
Wis., p. 578. The name is an abbreviation of Marie Antoinette. 

Marquette was named in honor of Father Jacques Marquette, 
the French Jesuit explorer, who passed through this region in 
1673. 

Milwaukee takes its name from the river, which had been the 
site of an Indian village since Wisconsin was first known to 
white men. For the variations in spelling see H. E. Legler, 
"Wisconsin Place Names," in Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, 
Arts, and Letters Transactions, xiv, p. 24. Legler declares that 
this word means "council place." The majority of authorities 

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Wisconsin Counties 

appear to consider it equivalent to ' ' good land ' ' — See Wis. Hist. 
Colls., iii, pp. 290, 337 ; xii, p. 393 ; Handbook, p. 863. See also 
D. H. Kelton, Annals of Fort Mackinac (ed. of 1884), p. 150. 

Monroe was named in honor of President James Monroe — 
Gannett, Place Names, p. 182. 

Oconto takes its name from its chief river. The significance 
of this word is variously given as "red ground," or "the place 
of the pickerel" — Gannett, Place Names, p. 194; or the Menom- 
inee word for "black bass" — Legler, Wis. Place Names. The 
latter would seem to be correct, since upon many of the early 
maps (1820-50) the stream is noted as Black Bass River. 

Oneida is named for a tribe of New York Indians, a branch of 
the Iroquois, who removed to Wisconsin early in the nineteenth 
century. The name is said to signify "granite people" — Gan- 
nett, Place Names, p. 196. 

Outagamie bears a Wisconsin Indian tribal name. It is the 
Chippewa appellation for the Foxes, who were first visited by the 
French in the Wolf River valley. The term is variously inter- 
preted as "dwellers on either shore" — Wis Hist. Colls., xii, p. 
396 ; and "dwellers on the other side of a stream" — Legler, Wis. 
Place Names, p. 32. 

Ozaukee is the Chippewa form of the tribal name of the 
Sauk. The word is commonly asserted to mean, "people living 
at the mouth of a river" — Legler, Wis. Place Names, p. 32; 
others interpret it as signifying "people of yellow earth" — Gan- 
nett, Place Names, p. 200. 

Pepin is named for Lake Pepin — an enlargement of the Mis- 
sissippi River. Lake Pepin is one of the oldest names upon 
the map of Wisconsin, being mentioned by that title in 1700 — 
Wis. Hist. Colls., xvi, p. 184. It seems probable it was named 
for one of the companions of Dulut^, whom he notes as being in 
that vicinity in 1679, and not as Gannett (Place Names, p. 205) 
assumes, for the French king, Pepin le Bref. 

Pierce was named in honor of President Franklin Pierce — 
Hist. No. Wis., p. 707. 

Polk was given its name in honor of President James K. 
Polk— Hist. No. Wis., p. 722. 

Portage was originally named for the Fox- Wisconsin portage, 
then within its boundaries — a prominent landmark in early Wis- 
consin history. The gradual change in the boundaries of this 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

county (described ante) left the name of the county without sig- 
nificance, save that therein is found Plover portage, an insig- 
nificant carrying-place between the waters of Wolf and Wiscon- 
sin rivers — Wis. Hist. Colls., i, pp. 113, 118. 

Price was named for William T. Price, who was president of 
the State senate at the time this county was formed — Hist. No. 
Wis., p. 765. Born in Pennsylvania (1824), Price early re- 
moved to western Wisconsin, and in 1851 was register of deeds 
for La Crosse County. The same year he served in the legis- 
lature, and in 1854 and 1859 as county judge for Jackson. Af- 
ter many terms as assemblyman and state senator, he was elected 
in 1883 representative to Congress, and re-elected in 1885, but 
died during his second term, Dec. 7, 1886. 

Racine was named for its principal town, which was laid off 
in 1834-35 by Gilbert Knapp. The first designation of this set- 
tlement was Port Gilbert ; but its founder decided to change this 
to Racine, the French translation of Root River, on which he had 
laid out his town. Root was apparently the translation of the 
aboriginal name for this stream — see Wis. Hist. Colls., vii, pp. 
335, 341 ; Butterfield, History of Racine and Kenosha Counties 
(Chicago, 1879), pp. 279, 355. 

Richland was named for the character of its soil — Wis. Hist. 
Colls., i, p. 109. 

Rock was not named for its rocky soil (Gannett, Place Names, 
p. 222), nor for Rock Prairie therein {Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 
113), but for its principal river. This stream was denominated 
by the early French explorers, ' ' des Kickapoo, ' ' for a village of 
that tribe found upon it. In the eighteenth century it was 
called "Riviere de la Roche," which was variously translated 
into Stony, Rocky, and finally Rock River. This was no doubt 
a translation of the Indian word, given because of the chain of 
rocks at the mouth of the stream, causing the rapids beside which 
is now the city of Rock Island, 111. 

Rusk Avas originally named Gates in honor of John L. Gates, 
then a prominent Milwaukee lumberman and capitalist. It was 
changed (1905) to Rusk in honor of Governor Jeremiah M. 
Rusk (1830-93). Rusk was born in Ohio, and removed to Wis- 
consin in 1853, settling at Viroqua. A member of the legis- 
lature of 1861, he served in the federal army throughout the 

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Wisconsin Counties 

War of Secession. From 1865-67, Rusk was bank-comptroller; 
1871-77, member of Congress ; and 1882-89, governor of the 
State. Under President Benjamin Harrison, he was the first 
secretary of agriculture, an office wherein he was highly efficient. 
He died at his Viroqua home, soon after his last term of public 
service. 

St. Croix is named for its principal river. This is one of the 
most ancient names on the map of Wisconsin, and was so desig- 
nated in honor of an early French voyageur who was wrecked at 
its mouth — see Wis. Hist. Colls., xvi, p. 185. 

Sauk is an Indian tribal name — see ante, Ozaukee, It took 
this name from a large village of that tribe formerly within its 
borders, for particulars of which see Wis. Hist. Colls., iii, p. 
206 ; xviii, pp. 282, 335. Although this village was removed be- 
fore the coming of the American settlers, it left its name to the 
neighboring Sauk Prairie — Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 113. 

Sawyer was named in honor of Philetus Sa"Ryer of Oshkosh. 
Born in Vermont in 1816, he removed to Wisconsin in 1847 and 
two years later started a sawmill at Oshkosh. In 1857 and 1861 
he was a member of the assembly ; 1865-75, he represented Wis- 
consin in Congress. In 1881 he was chosen United States senator 
and re-elected for a second term. He died in 1900 at his Osh- 
kosh home. 

Shawano was named for the lake of that name within its bor- 
ders. The word is a Chippewa term, somewhat modified, and 
signifies '^ southern" — Wis. Hist. Colls., xii, p. 347. It is simi- 
lar to the French Chaouanon (English, Shawnee), a tribal term. 
There is no evidence that the Shawnee Indians ever lived in this 
locality. It was probably the southern boundary of Chippewa 
tribal territory, although later claimed by the Menominee. 

Sheboygan takes its name from a river emptying into Lake 
Michigan. Two meanings have been assigned to this word: "a 
noise underground," and ''river disappearing underground" — 
Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 17, and Hist. No. Wis., p. 967; and ''a 
perforated object, such as a pipe-stem, or hollow bone" — Wis. 
Hist. Colls., iii, p. 337 ; xii, p. 397. 

Taylor. Since it was erected in 1875, this county was prob- 
ably named for the governor in office at that time, William R. 
Taylor. Born in Connecticut in 1818, he emigrated to Dane 
County in 1848, and lived upon a farm therein. He was, during 

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his term (1874-76) known as the "farmer governor." He died 
in the spring of 1909 near Madison. 

Trempealeau is named from its principal river. This stream 
was so called from a contiguous bluff, familiarly known to the 
early French voyageurs as La montagne qui trempe a I'eau 
("the mountain that is steeped in the water"). This, in its turn, 
seems to have been a translation of the Indian term, Pah-hah- 
dah, the Sioux word for "mountain separated by water;" or 
Hay-nee-ah-chah, the Winnebago word for "soaking mountain '^ 
— see Wis. Ilist. Soc. Proceedings, 1906, p. 246. 

Vernon. The original name of this county was Bad Ax, so 
designated from a stream therein, tributary to the Mississippi. 
Bad Ax was a translation of the French voyageur term, La 
mauvaise liaclie, but the origin of the name is unknown. The in- 
habitants of the county felt that this name created an unpleas- 
ant impression ; it was thereupon, at the suggestion of Judge 
William F. Terhune, changed to Vernon, implying the greenness 
of its wheat fields, and carrying a suggestion of Washington's 
home at ]\Iount Vernon — Butterfield, History of Vernon County 
(Springfield, 1884), p. 132. 

Vilas was named in honor of William F. Vilas of Madison. 
A native of Vermont (1840), he removed to Wisconsin in 1851, 
and was graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1858. 
During the War of Secession he attained the rank of lieutenant- 
colonel; was postmaster-general of the United States (1885-88) ; 
secretary of the interior (1888-91) ; and United States senator 
(1891-97). He died in August, 1908, leaving to his alma mater 
the bulk of his large fortune. 

Walworth was, at the suggestion of Col. Samuel F. Phoenix, 
founder of the town of Delavan, named for Chancellor Reuben 
H. Walworth of New York — History of Walworth County (Chi- 
cago, 1882), p. 315. Walworth (1788-1867) was the last chan- 
cellor of that state (1828-48), the chancery court being abol- 
ished at the close of his term. He was known as a great equity 
jurist, and an early friend of the temperance movement. 

Washburn was named in honor of Cadwallader C. Washburn, 
governor of the State, 1872-74. Born in Maine (1818), Wash- 
burn migrated West at the age of twenty-one. In 1842 he set- 
tled at Llineral Point, was admitted to the bar, and opened a 

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Wisconsin Counties 

bank. He was a congressman for three terms (1855-61), and 
again after the War of Secession (wherein he served), for two 
further terms (1867-71). After retiring from public life he 
built up the flour-mill industry at Minneapolis. For many 
years he was president of the State Historical Society, and gave 
the University its observatory. He died in 1882. 

Washington was named for the first president of the United 
States— TWs. Eist. Colls, i, p. 113. 

Waukesha was thus named when its territory was separated 
from ^Milwaukee, and erected into a county. There was a strong 
popular desire for an Indian name. Waukt-shaw was suggested 
-as being the Potawatomi form of fox, because the waters of the 
lower part of the county drain into Fox River of Illinois (which 
is, however, named for the Fox tribe of Indians, not for the ani- 
mal) — see Frank A. Flower, History of Waukesha County 
(Chicago, 1880), p. 376; also Wis. Eist. Colls., i, p. 117. The 
name, therefore, was not an aboriginal name of the locality, but 
one chosen by its early American settlers from Indian vocabu- 
laries. 

Waupaca takes its name from a river, whose Indian appella- 
tion has been variously interpreted. It is said to mean "white 
sand bottom" — Legler, Wis. Place Names, p. 35; and "pale 
water," or "to-morrow river" — Wis. Eist. Colls., iii, p. 487. 

Waushara. This name first appeared on the map when the 
•county was erected, and would seem (like Waukesha) to be an 
attempt of American settlers to apply some little-understood 
Indian term. One authority considers it equivalent to "good 
land" — Stennett, Place Names, p. 32. 

Winnebago took its name from the Indian tribe that had 
formerly lived in this vicinity. The word was an Algonquian 
term applied to the Siouan tribe, and signified, ' ' people dwelling 
by the fetid or ill-smelling water" (possibly a sulphur spring) — ' 
see Wis. Hist. Colls., xvi, p. 3 ; Thwaites, Wisconsin (Boston, 
1908), pp. 16, 17. 

Wood is thus named in honor of Joseph Wood, assemblyman 
from Grand Rapids when the county was formed. He came to 
Grand Rapids in 1848, and after having served one term in the 
legislature (1856), and one as county judge (1857), was mayor 
of Grand Rapids (1812-15)— Eist. No. Wis., p. 1198. 

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